Afghanistan suicide blast

Suicide attack kills six, fighting claims nearly 50 lives

Article published on the 2009-10-09 Latest update 2009-10-09 13:37 TU

An Afghan police officer at the site of Thursday's attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul
(Photo: Reuters)

A suicide attack in the south-eastern Afghan province of Paktia killed six guards working for a road construction company, the local governor said Friday. Clashes with the Taliban claimed at least 49 lives, according to officials.

A suicide attack in the south-eastern Afghan province of Paktia killed six guards working for a road construction company, the local governor said Friday. Clashes with the Taliban around the country claimed at least 49 lives, according to officials.

The Paktia bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the Sky construction company in the Jadran district, Governor Abdul Wali Jadran said. Three guards were wounded, he added.

This comes a day after a suicide bomber attacked the Indian embassy in Kabul.

In Herat, in the west of the country, the Afghan army says Nato and Afghan soldiers killed 20 fighters after being tipped off of the whereabouts of local commander Ghulam Yahya Akbari.

Akbari, who was among the dead, fought the Soviet occupation and the Taliban, but turned against the government three years ago.

There were also attacks on rebels in Wardak and Kandahar provinces, with seven reported killed in Wardak.

In Balkh, Taliban attacked Afghan and Swedish Nato forces, suffering three dead, according to officials.

In Ghazni, in the south, four Taliban are reported to have died and five wounded.

In Kunar, in the east, 13 Taliban were killed and 14 wounded after a seven-hour shootout, the Interior Ministry said.

In Nuristan, in the north-east, international troops have repositioned from two remote outposts there.

"Despite Taliban claims, the movement of troops and equipment from the outposts are part of a previously scheduled transfer," said international force officials, which has launched an operation in the mountainous province on Monday.

Last weekend eight US soldiers were killed in Nuristan in clashes which Nato claims cost the lives of 100 Taliban.