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Afghanistan: Suicide attack kills 13 US troops | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A suicide bomber has attacked a bus carrying foreign troops in the Afghan capital Kabul killing 13 US soldiers. | |
A Nato spokesman said the attacker detonated a car filled with explosives. | |
The attack, in the Darulaman area, west of Kabul, also killed three Afghan civilians and a police officer. | |
The Taliban has admitted carrying out the attack - one of the worst ground attacks against foreign troops since the beginning of the war. Such attacks are rare in heavily-guarded Kabul. | |
Separately, three Australian soldiers were killed by a man in Afghan army uniform. Nato said the gunman was also killed in that attack in the south of the country. | |
Fewer attacks have hit Kabul this year, compared to 2010. | |
But the Taliban and the Pakistan-based Haqqani network, which is linked to it, have still been able to penetrate the city's defences. | |
In September, the Haqqani network launched an attack on the American embassy and Isaf headquarters which lasted 20 hours. | |
Vehicles burning | Vehicles burning |
In a statement, the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said: "Initial reports indicate there has been a vehicle-borne IED (bomb) attack today against a coalition vehicle in Kabul." | |
The attack happened near Darulaman Palace, the bombed-out seat of Afghanistan's former kings on the south-west outskirts of the capital. | |
"A suicide car bomb attack was carried out on a bus of foreign forces in the Darulaman area of Kabul," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a text message to AFP news agency. | "A suicide car bomb attack was carried out on a bus of foreign forces in the Darulaman area of Kabul," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a text message to AFP news agency. |
A reporter with AP news agency at the scene said the back of a Nato bus appeared to have been blown apart and was a charred shell. Nato helicopters were seen taking away casualties. | A reporter with AP news agency at the scene said the back of a Nato bus appeared to have been blown apart and was a charred shell. Nato helicopters were seen taking away casualties. |
Police said the bomb had been in a car and was detonated at 11:20 (06:50 GMT). Witnesses saw vehicles burning at the site. | |
"It was a very strong bomb," said one eyewitness, Gulam Saki. | "It was a very strong bomb," said one eyewitness, Gulam Saki. |
There has been an increase in militant attacks across Afghanistan in recent months, despite the presence of more than 130,000 foreign troops. | There has been an increase in militant attacks across Afghanistan in recent months, despite the presence of more than 130,000 foreign troops. |
On Thursday the Taliban said it was behind an attack on a compound housing Western officials and military personnel in the city of Kandahar. The attack was repelled after a 15-hour battle. | On Thursday the Taliban said it was behind an attack on a compound housing Western officials and military personnel in the city of Kandahar. The attack was repelled after a 15-hour battle. |
The US is planning to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and hand over security to local forces by 2014. | The US is planning to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and hand over security to local forces by 2014. |