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Taliban truck bombs kill 18 people in central Afghanistan Taliban truck bombs kill 18 people in central Afghanistan
(about 4 hours later)
Taliban insurgents have detonated two powerful truck bombs outside the office of Afghanistan's spy agency and a police compound in the central town of Ghazni on Thursday, killing 18 people and wounding about 150.Taliban insurgents have detonated two powerful truck bombs outside the office of Afghanistan's spy agency and a police compound in the central town of Ghazni on Thursday, killing 18 people and wounding about 150.
The attack, the biggest in recent weeks, comes days after the National Directorate of Security – the intelligence arm that is leading the fight against the insurgents – was targeted in the east.The attack, the biggest in recent weeks, comes days after the National Directorate of Security – the intelligence arm that is leading the fight against the insurgents – was targeted in the east.
Ghazni's provincial governor, Musa Khan Akbarzada, said 19 insurgents was involved in the attack, which also targeted a quick reaction team housed in the police compound. The explosions, which shattered windows in the town, were followed by gunbattles with Afghan forces, he said. Ghazni's provincial governor, Musa Khan Akbarzada, said 19 insurgents were involved in the attack, which also targeted a quick reaction team in the police compound. The explosions, which shattered windows, were followed by gun battles with Afghan forces, he said.
The attack underlined growing insecurity in the country, which is beset by a political crisis over disputed election results at the same time that US-led Nato combat troops wind down their war against the Taliban. The attack underlined growing insecurity in the country, which is beset by a political crisis over disputed election results as US-led Nato combat troops wind down their war against the Taliban.
The group claimed responsibility for the attack through a recognised Twitter account.The group claimed responsibility for the attack through a recognised Twitter account.
The blast at the entrance of the compound sent broken glass raining down on civilians in the city before security forces fought an intense battle with the attackers and finally regained control.
"After a three-hour gun battle, the security forces killed all 19 attackers," Assadullah Ensafi, deputy police chief of Ghazni, told AFP. "The truck bomb was very strong, it broke windows of houses and shops around the building.""After a three-hour gun battle, the security forces killed all 19 attackers," Assadullah Ensafi, deputy police chief of Ghazni, told AFP. "The truck bomb was very strong, it broke windows of houses and shops around the building."
The disputed election has emboldened the Taliban, with fresh offensives launched in the south and east, while several provinces close to the capital Kabul have suffered worsening unrest. The disputed election has emboldened the Taliban, with fresh offensives launched in the south and east, while several provinces close to the capital, Kabul, have suffered worsening unrest.
The two rival presidential candidates, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, both claim they won the fraud-tainted election in June.The two rival presidential candidates, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, both claim they won the fraud-tainted election in June.