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US diplomat among six killed in Afghan suicide bombing US diplomat among six killed in Afghan suicide bombing
(35 minutes later)
A suicide bomb attack in southern Afghanistan killed an Afghan doctor, three US soldiers and two US civilians, one of them the first state department diplomat to die in the country since the 1970s.A suicide bomb attack in southern Afghanistan killed an Afghan doctor, three US soldiers and two US civilians, one of them the first state department diplomat to die in the country since the 1970s.
The attacker detonated a vehicle full of explosives in the centre of Qalat just as a US military convoy passed the provincial governor and his entourage. The blast killed and seriously injured several people from both groups.The attacker detonated a vehicle full of explosives in the centre of Qalat just as a US military convoy passed the provincial governor and his entourage. The blast killed and seriously injured several people from both groups.
Separately, 10 Afghan children, an Afghan woman and a US civilian adviser to the Afghan intelligence agency were killed in an hours-long battle in a remote part of eastern Kunar province on Saturday, senior local officials said.Separately, 10 Afghan children, an Afghan woman and a US civilian adviser to the Afghan intelligence agency were killed in an hours-long battle in a remote part of eastern Kunar province on Saturday, senior local officials said.
The deaths came as the most senior US general, Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, arrived in the country to discuss long-term training plans for Afghan soldiers.The deaths came as the most senior US general, Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, arrived in the country to discuss long-term training plans for Afghan soldiers.
Violence has been picking up in Afghanistan. With the arrival of warmer weather, it is easier for insurgents to cross mountain passes from safe havens in Pakistan. Violence is on the rise in Afghanistan. With the arrival of warmer weather, it is easier for insurgents to cross mountain passes from safe havens in Pakistan.
The diplomat killed in Qalat, in Zabul province, was Anne Smedinghoff, a 25-year-old press officer from Chicago who had less than four months left to serve in Afghanistan. At the time of the attack she had been heading to a local high school to help deliver books. The diplomat killed in Qalat, Zabul province, was Anne Smedinghoff, a 25-year-old press officer from Chicago who had less than four months left to serve in Afghanistan. At the time of the attack she had been heading to a local high school to help deliver books.
The US secretary of state, John Kerry, paid a very personal tribute to Smedinghoff, whom he met on a visit to Kabul less than a month earlier. She had been put in charge of organising the trip, a prestigious role for someone on only their second overseas assignment, and he remembered her as "vivacious, smart, capable", with great potential.The US secretary of state, John Kerry, paid a very personal tribute to Smedinghoff, whom he met on a visit to Kabul less than a month earlier. She had been put in charge of organising the trip, a prestigious role for someone on only their second overseas assignment, and he remembered her as "vivacious, smart, capable", with great potential.
Her death was a reminder of the gulf between the values the US supported and those of the Taliban and other groups fighting the government in Afghanistan, Kerry told diplomats in Istanbul, where he was visiting the consulate. Her death was a reminder of the gulf between the values that the US supported and those of the Taliban and other groups fighting the government in Afghanistan, Kerry told diplomats in Istanbul, where he was visiting the consulate.
"I think there are no words for anybody to describe the extraordinary harsh contradiction of a young 25-year-old woman with all of the future ahead of her, believing in the possibilities of diplomacy, of changing people's lives, of making a difference, having an impact, who was taking knowledge in books to deliver them to a school. And someone somehow persuaded that taking her – his life was a wiser course and somehow constructive, drives into their vehicle and we lose five lives." "I think there are no words for anybody to describe the extraordinary harsh contradiction of a young 25-year-old woman with all of the future ahead of her, believing in the possibilities of diplomacy, of changing people's lives, of making a difference, having an impact, who was taking knowledge in books to deliver them to a school. And someone somehow persuaded that taking her–his life was a wiser course and somehow constructive, drives into their vehicle and we lose five lives."
There were also tributes from journalists and others with whom Smedinghoff had worked. "Saddened by loss of Anne Smedinghoff whose commitment always impressed me. RIP Anne & your sacrifice to get books to Afghans appreciated," the prominent Afghan women's rights activist Wazhma Frogh said on Twitter.There were also tributes from journalists and others with whom Smedinghoff had worked. "Saddened by loss of Anne Smedinghoff whose commitment always impressed me. RIP Anne & your sacrifice to get books to Afghans appreciated," the prominent Afghan women's rights activist Wazhma Frogh said on Twitter.
"Anne was helpful and kind, going out of her way to assist. Tragic," said the Wall Street Journal correspondent Maria Abi-Habib."Anne was helpful and kind, going out of her way to assist. Tragic," said the Wall Street Journal correspondent Maria Abi-Habib.
Last year a civilian working on a diplomatic passport for the US government's development arm, USAID, died in a suicide bombing in eastern Afghanistan. But the last US state department diplomat killed in Afghanistan was ambassador Adolph Dubs, shot during a botched kidnapping in 1979. Last year, a civilian working on a diplomatic passport for the US government's development arm, USAid, died in a suicide bombing in eastern Afghanistan. But the last US state department diplomat killed in Afghanistan was ambassador Adolph Dubs, who was shot during a botched kidnapping in 1979.
Smedinghoff's parents, Tom and Mary Beth, issued a short statement mourning their daughter and praising her commitment. "Annie, you left us too soon," they said. "We are consoled knowing that she was doing what she loved, and that she was serving her country by helping to make a positive difference in the world.Smedinghoff's parents, Tom and Mary Beth, issued a short statement mourning their daughter and praising her commitment. "Annie, you left us too soon," they said. "We are consoled knowing that she was doing what she loved, and that she was serving her country by helping to make a positive difference in the world.
"She particularly enjoyed the opportunity to work directly with the Afghan people and was always looking for opportunities to reach out and help to make a difference in the lives of those living in a country ravaged by war.""She particularly enjoyed the opportunity to work directly with the Afghan people and was always looking for opportunities to reach out and help to make a difference in the lives of those living in a country ravaged by war."
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they had wanted to target either the government or a Nato convoy. "We were waiting for one of them," a spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, told the Associated Press. "It was our good luck that both appeared at the same time."The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they had wanted to target either the government or a Nato convoy. "We were waiting for one of them," a spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, told the Associated Press. "It was our good luck that both appeared at the same time."
The 18-hour battle with the Taliban in Kunar province broke out when a clearing operation led by the local intelligence agency officers met with fierce resistance, said Wasifullah Wasifi, a spokesman for the provincial governor.The 18-hour battle with the Taliban in Kunar province broke out when a clearing operation led by the local intelligence agency officers met with fierce resistance, said Wasifullah Wasifi, a spokesman for the provincial governor.
"The four big groups of enemies were in the area, 750 people, including al-Qaida, foreign Taliban and Afghan Taliban," he told the Guardian by phone. "The foreigners sent helicopters in support, that opened fire, and land forces also were pushing and attacking them."
An investigation was under way into how the children and woman had died, Wasifi said. The Nato-led coalition said it was aware of allegations of civilian casualties in Kunar and was looking into them.An investigation was under way into how the children and woman had died, Wasifi said. The Nato-led coalition said it was aware of allegations of civilian casualties in Kunar and was looking into them.
Mokhtar Amiri contributed reporting Additional reporting by Mokhtar Amiri
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