Afghanistan - mosque bombing

Deputy intelligence chief killed in suicide attack

Article published on the 2009-09-02 Latest update 2009-09-02 15:20 TU

Laghman marked in red on the map of Afghanistan
(Credit: Wikipedia)

Taliban rebels have killed Afghan deputy intelligence chief, Abdullah Laghmani, in a suicide bombing on Wednesday. The blast killed 19 civilians and three provincial officials, according to President Hamid Karzai.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that Laghmani was the target. The insurgents said that the province's Governor and Police Chief were unhurt.

A communique from President Hamid Karzai said that 24 people were killed in all and contradicted an earlier claim by The National Intelligence Directorate that Laghmani was wounded but had survived the attack.

Provincial government spokesperson Sayed Ahmad Safi said the attack took place after a meeting on drugs and security.

"As the participants were leaving the mosque after the meeting there was a suicide explosion outside," he said.

Other local officials say that 54 people were injured.

The killing is "a big blow to the government", says reporter Behroz Khan in the Pakistani city of Peshawar.

"The intelligence department is providing information to the government and other rebels and now the intelligence department itself is the target of suicide bombing."

Khan says that officials will now suspect that Taliban sympathisers within their ranks are giving information to the rebels.

In the aftermath of last month's election, representatives of the US and European countries are meeting in Paris to discuss their response to the poll and its aftermath.

US Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke on Wednesday repeated claims that Washington is not supporting any candidate, despite reports that he had a bust-up with incumbent Hamid Karzai on last week's visit to the country.

Presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday ruled out reaching an agreement with incumbent Hamid Karzai to takea government post.

The electoral commission is investigating 2,500 allegations of fraud in the poll, many of them coming from Abdullah's camp.

The former Foreign Minister said that he is restraining supporters in Kandahar who want to demonstrate in support of his claim that he won the election in the first round.