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'Aid women killed' in Afghanistan Aid women killed in Afghanistan
(41 minutes later)
Three women thought to be international aid workers have been shot dead along with their Afghan driver south of the capital, Kabul, officials say. Three female international aid workers have been shot dead along with their Afghan driver in a province bordering Kabul, the government says.
Police say a second Afghan driver was hurt when unidentified gunmen fired on the two cars the group were travelling in through central Lowgar province. The women worked for the International Rescue Committee and were American, Canadian and Irish, said police.
The nationalities of the women are not known yet. It is also not clear who the three may have worked for. A second Afghan was also hurt when unidentified gunmen fired on two cars carrying the group in Lowgar province.
Aid agencies say they are frequently targeted in the Afghan conflict. Aid agencies say they are frequently targeted in Afghanistan, with convoys attacked and staff abducted or killed.
An Afghan interior ministry spokesman said all three women were foreigners. The BBC's Alastair Leithead, in Kabul, says Lowgar has become increasingly violent.
He said he believed they were aid workers, but did not identify their nationality or which organisation they were working for. The United Nations now classifies the province as a high risk, he adds.
The provincial police chief said a vehicle carrying armed men had fired on the group. The bodies have been taken to the governor's compound in the Lowgar capital, Puli Alam. Bodies
The BBC's Alastair Leithead, in Kabul, says Lowgar, which borders Kabul, has become increasingly violent recently. The United Nations now classifies the province as a high risk, he adds. A spokesman from the Afghan interior ministry said the three women, all foreigners, were killed after their vehicles came under attack in Lowgar, a central province which borders Kabul. They were in a two-vehicle convoy. They were American, Canadian and Irish Abdul Majid Latifi, Lowgar deputy police chief
Lowgar's deputy police chief, Abdul Majid Latifi, said those killed had been travelling in two cars from Lowgar to Kabul when another vehicle carrying armed men opened fire on them.
An Afghan national who was one of their drivers was also killed, and their other driver injured.
Their bodies were taken to the governor's compound in the provincial capital, Puli Alam.
No group has said it carried out the attack.
There has been no response yet from the International Rescue Committee, or from the US, Canadian or Irish embassies in Kabul.
'Grave concern''Grave concern'
Earlier this month aid agencies warned they may become unable to operate in parts of Afghanistan once seen as safe, because of the intensifying conflict. Earlier this month aid agencies warned they may become unable to operate in parts of Afghanistan once seen as safe, because of the intensifying conflict. AFGHAN AID ATTACKS 2008: An estimated 84 attacks on aid agencies so far, 21 in JuneJuly 2008: Two French aid workers abducted, but later freed May 2008: UN shuts a repatriation centre in the east amid unrest Jan 2008: US female NGO worker seized in the southJuly 2007: Two South Korean aid workers shot deadApril 2007: Two French aid workers seized in the south-west March 2007: Gunmen shoot dead a German aid worker in the north
AFGHAN AID ATTACKS 2008: An estimated 84 attacks on aid agencies so far, 21 in JuneJuly 2008: Two French aid workers abducted, but later freed May 2008: UN shuts a repatriation centre in the east amid unrest Jan 2008: US female NGO worker seized in the southJuly 2007: Two South Korean aid workers shot deadApril 2007: Two French aid workers seized in the south-west March 2007: Gunmen shoot dead a German aid worker in the north
The Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief (Acbar), an umbrella group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), pointed to a 50% increase in insurgent attacks compared to last year.The Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief (Acbar), an umbrella group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), pointed to a 50% increase in insurgent attacks compared to last year.
It expressed its "grave concern about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the serious impact on civilians".It expressed its "grave concern about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the serious impact on civilians".
June saw more attacks on NGOs than in any month since the Taleban's overthrow in 2001 and some agencies had been forced to scale back operations, the statement said.June saw more attacks on NGOs than in any month since the Taleban's overthrow in 2001 and some agencies had been forced to scale back operations, the statement said.
Nineteen aid workers had been killed so far this year - more than during the whole of 2007, said Acbar.Nineteen aid workers had been killed so far this year - more than during the whole of 2007, said Acbar.
Some 2,500 people had been killed this year, up to 1,000 of them civilians, Acbar said.Some 2,500 people had been killed this year, up to 1,000 of them civilians, Acbar said.
Kabul blamed the rise in insurgent attacks on the Pakistani government's attempts to negotiate peace deals with militants in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.Kabul blamed the rise in insurgent attacks on the Pakistani government's attempts to negotiate peace deals with militants in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
Nato commanders have said violence is up by some 40% in eastern Afghanistan since spring this year, partly due to troops patrolling more areas.Nato commanders have said violence is up by some 40% in eastern Afghanistan since spring this year, partly due to troops patrolling more areas.