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Foreigners killed in Afghan blast Afghan explosion leaves six dead
(about 3 hours later)
At least six people have been killed in a suicide bombing in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, three of them foreigners. At least six people, including three foreigners, have died in a suicide bombing in the Afghan city of Kandahar.
Initial reports said the explosion happened at a compound shared by foreign companies.Initial reports said the explosion happened at a compound shared by foreign companies.
"It was a suicide car bomb that targeted a foreign security company," Fazil Mohammad Sherzad, deputy provincial police chief, told AFP."It was a suicide car bomb that targeted a foreign security company," Fazil Mohammad Sherzad, deputy provincial police chief, told AFP.
It came hours after a car bomb in the city injured at least eight people. The UK Foreign Office said it was in contact with local officials to try to find out whether Britons were involved.
And on Monday, three suicide bombers tried to attack an intelligence compound in the city, leaving 10 people injured. The latest blast came hours after a car bomb at a hotel in the city left several hurt.
The Afghan president's half-brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, told the BBC that three foreigners and three Afghans were killed in the latest blast.
He did not know their nationalities, he said, adding that nine people were wounded.
Reports said a suicide bomber drove his car past one barrier leading into the compound, then set off the explosion at a second barrier.
The blast blew out windows more than two miles (3km) away and shook the compound, which includes the offices of the Afghanistan Stabilization Initiative, an aid programme.
On Monday, three suicide bombers tried to attack an intelligence compound in the city, leaving 10 people injured.
Kandahar is the main city of Afghanistan's volatile south. This week's attacks came after the Nato-led military coalition in Afghanistan said it would launch an offensive in Kandahar in June.Kandahar is the main city of Afghanistan's volatile south. This week's attacks came after the Nato-led military coalition in Afghanistan said it would launch an offensive in Kandahar in June.
Officials said some 10,000 troops would be involved in the operation to expel insurgents from the city - the birthplace of the Taliban.Officials said some 10,000 troops would be involved in the operation to expel insurgents from the city - the birthplace of the Taliban.
Earlier, the UN special representative for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, called for greater attention to civilian safety following the deaths of four Afghans who died on Monday when the bus in which they were travelling was fired on by US troops near Kandahar.Earlier, the UN special representative for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, called for greater attention to civilian safety following the deaths of four Afghans who died on Monday when the bus in which they were travelling was fired on by US troops near Kandahar.
The US military said it regretted the incident.The US military said it regretted the incident.
There are signs that the insurgency has spread to the formerly stable north of the country. Four German soldiers were killed and five wounded in fighting on Thursday in Baghlan province, the defence ministry in Berlin said.


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