Suicide bombing kills 21 in Afghanistan's KandaharJune 6, 2012 - 11:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A suicide motorcycle bombing killed 21 people and wounded 22 others Wednesday, June 6 in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar, police said, according to AFP. The bomber struck in a parking lot crowded with dozens of trucks supplying the NATO-run Kandahar Air Base and a makeshift bazaar, provincial police chief General Abdul Raziq told AFP. "All casualties are civilians -- not a single military person," he said, describing most victims as drivers, their assistants and workers. The Kandahar Air Base is the largest NATO military base in southern Afghanistan, which has been a flashpoint for Taliban insurgents over the past decade. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing, but similar attacks in the past have been blamed on the hardline Islamists trying to topple the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai. Suicide attacks are a common Taliban tactic, along with roadside bombings that often miss their military targets and kill civilians. Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban, who took power in Kabul in 1996 and ruled for five years before being ousted in a US-led invasion for refusing to hand over al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |