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| German troops die in Afghanistan | German troops die in Afghanistan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three German soldiers were among seven people killed in a suicide bomb attack in Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan, local police have said. | Three German soldiers were among seven people killed in a suicide bomb attack in Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan, local police have said. |
| At least 14 people were also injured in the blast which happened when the troops were conducting a foot patrol in Kunduz city. | At least 14 people were also injured in the blast which happened when the troops were conducting a foot patrol in Kunduz city. |
| Two Germans were among the injured, police chief Gen Nur Mohammad said. | Two Germans were among the injured, police chief Gen Nur Mohammad said. |
| About 3,000 German troops are based in northern Afghanistan as part of the Nato force in the country. | About 3,000 German troops are based in northern Afghanistan as part of the Nato force in the country. |
| Maj John Thomas, a spokesman for Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), confirmed that there had been an attack in Kunduz, with a number of Isaf personnel killed or injured. | |
| An Afghan interpreter working with the German troops was also killed in the attack. | |
| Witnesses say a suicide bomber on foot targeted the German patrol as they walked through a shopping district in the centre of the city. | Witnesses say a suicide bomber on foot targeted the German patrol as they walked through a shopping district in the centre of the city. |
| "Suddenly we heard a big sound. We were frightened," Aziz, a shopkeeper, was quoted by Reuters as saying. "We saw very thick smoke and people rushing to escape." | "Suddenly we heard a big sound. We were frightened," Aziz, a shopkeeper, was quoted by Reuters as saying. "We saw very thick smoke and people rushing to escape." |
| Lengthy gun battle | |
| On 16 April, a Taleban suicide bomber attacked a group of policemen doing morning exercises in Kunduz, killing nine and injuring 25. | |
| However, the north of Afghanistan where the German troops are operating has been spared much of the violence of the Taleban insurgency that is taking place in the south and east of the country. | |
| In the eastern province of Paktia, near the Pakistan border, coalition troops and Afghan security forces clashed with Taleban militants late on Friday in a gun battle which lasted several hours. | |
| Afghan army officials said more than 60 insurgents were killed in the fighting, though this has not been verified. No coalition or government forces were reported injured. | |
| Paktia province has been the scene of frequent violence involving the Taleban, the radical Islamist group toppled from power after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. | |
| The Taleban are threatening to increase their attacks following the killing of their top military commander Mullah Dadullah a week ago. | |
| Dadullah was killed in an operation by the US-led coalition, supported by Isaf, in Helmand province. | |
| Dadullah's name had been linked with the beheading of suspected spies, controlling the guerrilla war in Helmand Province, dispatching suicide bombers and the kidnapping of Westerners. |