- SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan
(Reuters) - Guerrillas from the ousted Taliban regime killed at least 12
soldiers in Afghanistan's south on Thursday in a sharp escalation of violence
ahead of next month's landmark presidential election.
-
- At least seven more soldiers were killed in other clashes
in the southern province of Zabul on Tuesday and Wednesday, provincial
officials said. They said some Taliban members were also killed, but no
details were available.
-
- Kheyal Mohammad Husseini, the Zabul governor, said the
latest fighting erupted when guerrillas attacked a government post in Sori
district of the restive province and killed 12 soldiers.
-
- The governor did not have further details of the fighting
in the province, the scene of repeated attacks by the Taliban over the
past three days.
-
- On Wednesday, the guerrillas attacked a joint convoy
of U.S. and Afghan forces. The Taliban say several U.S. soldiers were killed,
but there has been no independent verification.
-
- Zabul is near the border with neighbouring Pakistan and
is part of the main bastion of the Taliban. The guerrillas have vowed to
derail the Oct. 9 election, in which incumbent President Hamid Karzai is
pitted against 17 other candidates.
-
- More than 1,000 people have been killed since August
last year in violence linked to remnants of the Taliban, toppled from power
in a U.S.-led war for failing to hand over al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden
after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
-
- Most of the presidential candidates have called for the
poll to be delayed until security improves, but Karzai has said the vote
will take place on schedule.
-
- The election has been delayed twice.
|
