This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8260419.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Italian forces die in Kabul blast | Italian forces die in Kabul blast |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least six Italian soldiers have been killed in a bomb attack on a military convoy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, Italian defence officials say. | At least six Italian soldiers have been killed in a bomb attack on a military convoy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, Italian defence officials say. |
| Two military vehicles were reported to have been hit by a suicide car bomb. At least three civilians were also killed and dozens injured, officials said. | Two military vehicles were reported to have been hit by a suicide car bomb. At least three civilians were also killed and dozens injured, officials said. |
| The bomb went off near Kabul's diplomatic quarter in the city centre. | The bomb went off near Kabul's diplomatic quarter in the city centre. |
| The blast comes as Afghan President Hamid Karzai reaffirmed his belief in last month's election process. | The blast comes as Afghan President Hamid Karzai reaffirmed his belief in last month's election process. |
| August's presidential election has been overshadowed by widespread allegations of fraud. | August's presidential election has been overshadowed by widespread allegations of fraud. |
| Deadly attack | Deadly attack |
| Witnesses say an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the Italian military convoy on Kabul's busy airport road. | Witnesses say an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the Italian military convoy on Kabul's busy airport road. |
| "It was a suicide car bomb attack... It was against Italian forces," Kabul's chief of criminal investigations told the AFP news agency. | "It was a suicide car bomb attack... It was against Italian forces," Kabul's chief of criminal investigations told the AFP news agency. |
| ATTACKS ON FOREIGN TROOPS Sept 09: Six Italians killed, four wounded after attack on Kabul convoyAug 08: Ten French soldiers killed in ambush east of KabulJuly 08: Nine US soldiers killed in an attack in KunarJune 08: Four British soldiers killed by a landmine in HelmandJuly 07: Six Canadian soldiers and their Afghan translator killed by roadside bomb in KandaharJune 05: Sixteen US special forces and crew killed when helicopter shot down in Kunar In pictures: Kabul convoy attack Karzai defends vote 'integrity' | ATTACKS ON FOREIGN TROOPS Sept 09: Six Italians killed, four wounded after attack on Kabul convoyAug 08: Ten French soldiers killed in ambush east of KabulJuly 08: Nine US soldiers killed in an attack in KunarJune 08: Four British soldiers killed by a landmine in HelmandJuly 07: Six Canadian soldiers and their Afghan translator killed by roadside bomb in KandaharJune 05: Sixteen US special forces and crew killed when helicopter shot down in Kunar In pictures: Kabul convoy attack Karzai defends vote 'integrity' |
| At least four Italian soldiers are also said to have been seriously wounded. | At least four Italian soldiers are also said to have been seriously wounded. |
| Some reports say that up to 10 Afghan civilians were also killed in the explosion. | Some reports say that up to 10 Afghan civilians were also killed in the explosion. |
| Eyewitnesses said the explosion shook buildings and that a plume of black smoke hung over the area where it occurred. | Eyewitnesses said the explosion shook buildings and that a plume of black smoke hung over the area where it occurred. |
| Student Jamal Nasir was in his car when the bomber struck and described an almost deafening blast. | Student Jamal Nasir was in his car when the bomber struck and described an almost deafening blast. |
| "I could see thick black smoke behind us... There were screams and car horns. People were running over each other and in the panic cars were driving on pedestrian lanes," he told the BBC. | "I could see thick black smoke behind us... There were screams and car horns. People were running over each other and in the panic cars were driving on pedestrian lanes," he told the BBC. |
| The blast caused considerable destruction in the immediate vicinity, with a number of shops badly damaged. | The blast caused considerable destruction in the immediate vicinity, with a number of shops badly damaged. |
| Photographs and television footage of the blast site showed the Italian flag on Isaf armoured vehicles, one of which was destroyed. | Photographs and television footage of the blast site showed the Italian flag on Isaf armoured vehicles, one of which was destroyed. |
| Fierce insurgency | Fierce insurgency |
| There have been several bomb attacks in Kabul this year. | There have been several bomb attacks in Kabul this year. |
| At least 10 Afghan civilians are said to have been killed. | At least 10 Afghan civilians are said to have been killed. |
| Shortly before nationwide elections in August, Nato's Kabul headquarters was hit by a suicide car bomb attack which killed at least 10 people. | Shortly before nationwide elections in August, Nato's Kabul headquarters was hit by a suicide car bomb attack which killed at least 10 people. |
| But this is thought to be one of the deadliest attacks on foreign troops in recent months. | But this is thought to be one of the deadliest attacks on foreign troops in recent months. |
| On Wednesday, three US troops were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan. | On Wednesday, three US troops were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan. |
| There are about 3,200 Italian troops in Afghanistan, mostly in the west of the country. | |
| US and Nato-led forces across Afghanistan are battling a fierce Taliban insurgency. | US and Nato-led forces across Afghanistan are battling a fierce Taliban insurgency. |
| In recent months the US has poured more forces into the Taliban's heartland in the south of the country. | In recent months the US has poured more forces into the Taliban's heartland in the south of the country. |
| And on Wednesday, the top US military officer, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen, told the US Senate that yet more troops might be required in Afghanistan. | And on Wednesday, the top US military officer, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen, told the US Senate that yet more troops might be required in Afghanistan. |
| Correspondents say that 2009, so far, has been one of the deadliest for foreign troops in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. | Correspondents say that 2009, so far, has been one of the deadliest for foreign troops in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. |
| Are you in Kabul? Did you witness the explosion? Send us your accounts using the form below. | Are you in Kabul? Did you witness the explosion? Send us your accounts using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |