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Taliban bomb kills six foreign soldiers in Afghanistan Taliban bomb kills six foreign soldiers in Afghanistan
(about 2 hours later)
A suicide vehicle bomb attack on a patrol near a base at Bagram in eastern Afghanistan has killed six foreign soldiers and injured six other people. A Taliban suicide vehicle bomb attack near a US base at Bagram in eastern Afghanistan has killed six foreign soldiers and injured six other people.
Nato, which leads the international force in Afghanistan, did not give the nationalities of the victims.Nato, which leads the international force in Afghanistan, did not give the nationalities of the victims.
In a separate incident, the US embassy said a US citizen had been killed in the capital Kabul. In the southern province of Helmand, Taliban militants have made advances in the strategic district of Sangin.
And in Helmand province, Taliban militants have laid siege to a police headquarters. Meanwhile, in the capital Kabul, a US woman was killed at a gym, with her suspected attacker, a mullah, arrested.
Some 12,000 foreign soldiers are deployed as part of the Resolute Support international coalition, which is meant to underpin Afghanistan's own security forces.Some 12,000 foreign soldiers are deployed as part of the Resolute Support international coalition, which is meant to underpin Afghanistan's own security forces.
The soldiers taking part are from Nato states and Nato partners. The soldiers taking part are from Nato countries and Nato partner states.
'Motorcycle bomber''Motorcycle bomber'
The attack at Bagram, the biggest US military facility in Afghanistan, happened at around 13:30 local time (09:00 GMT).The attack at Bagram, the biggest US military facility in Afghanistan, happened at around 13:30 local time (09:00 GMT).
It appears the bomber was riding a motorcycle or another vehicle.It appears the bomber was riding a motorcycle or another vehicle.
Brig Gen William Shoffner, head of public affairs at the Resolute Support base in Kabul, confirmed six deaths and said three foreign soldiers had also been wounded.Brig Gen William Shoffner, head of public affairs at the Resolute Support base in Kabul, confirmed six deaths and said three foreign soldiers had also been wounded.
"We're deeply saddened by this loss," he said. "Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends of those affected in this tragic incident, especially during this holiday season.""We're deeply saddened by this loss," he said. "Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends of those affected in this tragic incident, especially during this holiday season."
A spokesman for the governor of Parwan province, where Bagram is located, told the BBC three Afghan police officers had also been wounded in the attack.A spokesman for the governor of Parwan province, where Bagram is located, told the BBC three Afghan police officers had also been wounded in the attack.
The Taliban said it had carried out the attack in statements to media.The Taliban said it had carried out the attack in statements to media.
Helmand siege The woman killed in Kabul was named as Lisa Akbari.
In Kabul, police told the BBC a mullah killed had killed US citizen Lisa Akbari while she was attending a local gym. The mullah was arrested. Battle for Sangin
In Helmand, police commander Mohammad Dawood said his officers had been surrounded in the town of Sangin, and, without urgent help, risked being "captured alive". There are conflicting reports about the situation in Sangin.
Helmand has seen fierce clashes in recent months, with large areas of the province being held by the Taliban. Helmand's deputy governor, Mohammad Jan Rasulyar, told international news agencies the town of Sangin had been overrun by the Taliban late on Sunday.
The province is a key Taliban base and an area of opium cultivation - the province has seen some of the fiercest clashes between Nato-led forces and the Taliban. "The Taliban have captured the police headquarters, the governor's office as well as the intelligence agency building in Sangin," he told AFP. "Fighting is escalating in the district."
More than 450 UK military personnel died during a 13-year combat mission in Afghanistan, including more than 100 in Sangin. Speaking to the Associated Press, he added that casualties among Afghan security forces were high but he gave no figures. Only some army facilities had not been taken, he said.
UK forces ended combat operations in October last year. However, police officers and soldiers inside the Sangin police headquarters appeared to be still holding out on Monday.
Officials there have warned the whole of the southern province could fall. The district police commander, Mohammad Dawood, told the BBC the Taliban had completely cut the facility off from the rest of the province, and food and weapons supplies were running low.
"For the past two days we have been surrounded inside the police headquarters," he said.
"No one can move out because the checkpoints along the roads are gone. The roads between the district and Lashkar Gah and other districts are closed. We also have a number of injured troops and bodies here. In the last two days the fighting has been very heavy."
Daud added that, over the past month, security forces in the district had sustained 365 casualties, both dead and injured.
Reports say the Taliban are also close to overrunning the neighbouring district of Gereshk.
Appeal for support
Nearly a quarter of British military lives were lost in Sangin at the height of the UK's involvement in Helmand in the four years leading up to 2010.
UK forces ended combat operations in Afghanistan in October of last year after suffering at least 450 deaths.
A former British forces commander in the country has called for Britain to increase its military presence in the area to help the beleaguered Afghan forces.
Col Richard Kemp told the BBC World Service the current situation in Sangin was "horrifying" for those who had fought there.
He said there was a renewed need for British troops on the ground there to help the Afghan forces, hundreds of whom have been killed in the past month.
Helmand is a key Taliban base and an area of opium cultivation.