-
Afghan troops - Source: Reuters -
Related
Afghanistan's security forces killed five suicide bombers who
planned to carry out a commando-style raid on government buildings
in south-eastern Paktika province, the Interior Ministry
said.
The security forces shot dead three of the would-be attackers
before they were able to conduct a raid in the remote Barmal
district which lies near the border with Pakistan.
The other two fled to a shop and were killed there after putting up
brief resistance.
Taliban guerrillas have increasingly used the tactic of coordinated
commando-style strikes, which usually feature several suicide
bombers and gunmen seizing buildings in towns across southern
Afghanistan as well as the capital, Kabul.
In the latest such incident, more than 30 people, including police
officers and civilians, were killed late Saturday in a series of
attacks in the southern city of Kandahar.
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the strikes in
Kandahar, saying they were a pre-emptive response to an expected
offensive by US and NATO-led forces in the city, birthplace of the
Taliban movement.
There are more than 120,000 NATO-led troops stationed in
Afghanistan to fight the resurgent Taliban, rising to about 150,000
this year after US President Barack Obama announced a surge of
extra forces in December.
World News Video
-
Dangerous rush to Everest summit (1:59)
-
Dozens killed in Syrian massacre (2:09)
-
'King of Romance' competes in Eurovision (1:46)
