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Afghan Taliban set off car bomb at Jalalabad airport | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Taliban suicide car bomber has killed at least nine people and wounded 10 others in an attack at Jalalabad airport in eastern Afghanistan. | A Taliban suicide car bomber has killed at least nine people and wounded 10 others in an attack at Jalalabad airport in eastern Afghanistan. |
The insurgents said the bombing was in revenge for a Koran-burning incident at a US air base near Kabul a week ago. | |
The burning, which the US says was unintentional, has sparked violent protests across the country. | The burning, which the US says was unintentional, has sparked violent protests across the country. |
Nato said it had no reports of international forces being among the casualties in Jalalabad. | Nato said it had no reports of international forces being among the casualties in Jalalabad. |
The airport serves both civilian and international military aircraft. Witnesses reported seeing at least four destroyed cars at the gates. | The airport serves both civilian and international military aircraft. Witnesses reported seeing at least four destroyed cars at the gates. |
'Late reaction' | |
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in an email to media: "This attack is revenge against those soldiers who burned our Koran.'' | Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in an email to media: "This attack is revenge against those soldiers who burned our Koran.'' |
President Hamid Karzai has appealed for calm amid anger at the incident at Bagram air base near Kabul. | President Hamid Karzai has appealed for calm amid anger at the incident at Bagram air base near Kabul. |
In his televised address on Sunday, Mr Karzai "condemned with the strongest words" the treatment of the Korans but added: "Now that we have shown our feelings it is time to be calm and peaceful." | In his televised address on Sunday, Mr Karzai "condemned with the strongest words" the treatment of the Korans but added: "Now that we have shown our feelings it is time to be calm and peaceful." |
But the BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says Western officials have complained that the Afghan leadership, including Mr Karzai, did not do enough to stop the violence. | |
Several Western diplomats said they would have preferred the Afghan president deliver a video address swiftly and ask for an immediate end to violence by demonstrators. But they say his late reaction allowed violent protests to continue, according to our correspondent. | |
Manhunt | Manhunt |
More than 30 people have been killed in the past five days, and there was further violence on Sunday. | |
Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence. | Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence. |
Various apologies from Nato and the US over the last week failed to cool the anger on the streets. | |
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Meanwhile, Afghan authorities are still hunting a 25-year-old Afghan policeman believed to have shot dead two senior Nato officers at the interior ministry in Kabul on Saturday. | Meanwhile, Afghan authorities are still hunting a 25-year-old Afghan policeman believed to have shot dead two senior Nato officers at the interior ministry in Kabul on Saturday. |
Afghan officials named the suspect as a police intelligence officer, Abdul Saboor, from Parwan province. | Afghan officials named the suspect as a police intelligence officer, Abdul Saboor, from Parwan province. |
The dead Nato officers are believed to have been Americans. | |
The US, Britain, France and Germany have now withdrawn civilian staff from Afghan institutions. It is unclear how long the withdrawal will last. | |