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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Afghan cities attacked by Taliban | Afghan cities attacked by Taliban |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Five Afghan security personnel have died in a series of Taliban strikes in eastern Afghanistan, officials say. | |
| Gunmen and suicide bombers targeted four sites in the city of Gardez, among them the governor's compound. Four bombers were reported killed. | Gunmen and suicide bombers targeted four sites in the city of Gardez, among them the governor's compound. Four bombers were reported killed. |
| During an attack in Jalalabad, near the Pakistan border, at least one militant was killed and another captured. | During an attack in Jalalabad, near the Pakistan border, at least one militant was killed and another captured. |
| The battles come amid a spike of violence in the country ahead of elections on 20 August. | |
| Taliban militants have carried out similar co-ordinated attacks on provincial cities in recent months. | Taliban militants have carried out similar co-ordinated attacks on provincial cities in recent months. |
| In May, six people were killed when militants launched simultaneous assaults on government buildings in the city of Khost, also in eastern Afghanistan. | In May, six people were killed when militants launched simultaneous assaults on government buildings in the city of Khost, also in eastern Afghanistan. |
| Shootout | Shootout |
| In Gardez, the militants attacked the police chief's office, a police station and the intelligence directorate, as well as the governor's compound, Afghan officials said. | In Gardez, the militants attacked the police chief's office, a police station and the intelligence directorate, as well as the governor's compound, Afghan officials said. |
| A Taliban spokesman said 15 militants, all wearing suicide vests, planned to launch attacks in the city. Afghan officials refused to comment on that claim. | A Taliban spokesman said 15 militants, all wearing suicide vests, planned to launch attacks in the city. Afghan officials refused to comment on that claim. |
| Afghanistan: Taliban tactics | Afghanistan: Taliban tactics |
| Reports said at least two of the attackers carried their bombs underneath burkas, the all-enveloping dress often worn by Afghan women. | Reports said at least two of the attackers carried their bombs underneath burkas, the all-enveloping dress often worn by Afghan women. |
| A local trader said there was panic and confusion. | A local trader said there was panic and confusion. |
| "I was at my shop and I suddenly heard a loud explosion and then gunshots. I saw fire being exchanged between the police and attackers," the trader told the BBC. | "I was at my shop and I suddenly heard a loud explosion and then gunshots. I saw fire being exchanged between the police and attackers," the trader told the BBC. |
| In a statement, the defence ministry said four militants were killed in a shootout and two blew themselves up. | In a statement, the defence ministry said four militants were killed in a shootout and two blew themselves up. |
| Officials confirmed to the BBC that five Afghan security personnel had been killed. | Officials confirmed to the BBC that five Afghan security personnel had been killed. |
| An Afghan doctor at the hospital in Gardez told the BBC he had received four bodies, all of military personnel. | An Afghan doctor at the hospital in Gardez told the BBC he had received four bodies, all of military personnel. |
| Meanwhile in Jalalabad at least two militants tried to attack an airport which is a base for Afghan and foreign troops. | Meanwhile in Jalalabad at least two militants tried to attack an airport which is a base for Afghan and foreign troops. |
| Nato-led forces said one blew himself up and another was captured. An Afghan official said one policeman was killed, but that was not confirmed. | Nato-led forces said one blew himself up and another was captured. An Afghan official said one policeman was killed, but that was not confirmed. |
| Troops 'must stay' | Troops 'must stay' |
| Earlier, a British soldier was killed in an explosion in Helmand province in the south of the country. | Earlier, a British soldier was killed in an explosion in Helmand province in the south of the country. |
| He was the 18th British soldier to be killed in Afghanistan this month. The deaths of four US soldiers were announced on Monday. | He was the 18th British soldier to be killed in Afghanistan this month. The deaths of four US soldiers were announced on Monday. |
| Also on Monday, Nato head Jaap de Hoop Scheffer warned that walking away from the war would have a "devastating" effect, allowing extremism to overwhelm Afghanistan and spread further into Pakistan and Central Asia. | Also on Monday, Nato head Jaap de Hoop Scheffer warned that walking away from the war would have a "devastating" effect, allowing extremism to overwhelm Afghanistan and spread further into Pakistan and Central Asia. |
| The fight in Afghanistan, he said, was essential to the security of Nato members. | The fight in Afghanistan, he said, was essential to the security of Nato members. |
| "Those who argue otherwise - who say we can defend against terrorism from home - are simply burying their heads in the sand," he said. | "Those who argue otherwise - who say we can defend against terrorism from home - are simply burying their heads in the sand," he said. |