Motorcycle bomb kills 2, wounds 15 in AfghanistanJune 12, 2013 - 14:24 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A motorcycle bomb killed an Afghan soldier and a civilian Wednesday and wounded 15 other people in southern Afghanistan, officials said, according to The Associated Press. The blast was near a market in Helmand province's heavily contested Sangin district, local police chief Ghulam Ali said, adding that three soldiers, one local police officer and 11 civilians were among the wounded. Helmand government spokesman Omar Zwak said the explosives in a parked motorcycle were remotely detonated as an army and police patrol passed by. Taliban insurgents and other militants have unleashed a fierce wave of attacks on Afghan security forces and government targets in recent weeks. The offensive has pushed violence to some of the highest levels of the 12-year war as Afghan forces take over most security responsibility from international troops set to withdraw next year. Militants in eastern Afghanistan attacked a NATO convoy carrying supplies on Tuesday night, killing two Afghan police officers and two truck drivers, provincial deputy police chief Asadullah Insafi said. Three insurgents were also killed in the attack in the eastern province of Ghazni, Insafi said. 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 | 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. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |