War on Terror - Suicide bombing kills Afghan governor

War on Terror - Suicide bombing kills Afghan governor
Copyright 2006 Associated Press
September 10, 2006


KABUL, Afghanistan-- A suicide bombing killed the governor of Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province and two other people outside his home Sunday, police said.

Three others were wounded in the attack outside Gov. Abdul Hakim Taniwal's house in the provincial capital of Gardez, said provincial police chief Abdul Annan Raufi.

The attacker, with explosives attached to his body, ran towards the governor's car and detonated the bomb as he was leaving the house, Raufi said.

Also killed were a bodyguard and Taniwal's secretary, who were riding in the car, said Interior Ministry spokesman Yousef Stanezai.

Three police on duty at the house were wounded, he said.

Taliban-led militants have stepped up attacks in Afghanistan this year, including suicide bombings.

On Friday, a bomber in a car rammed into a U.S. military convoy near the U.S. Embassy, killing 16 people in the deadliest suicide attack since the fall of the hardline Islamic regime in late 2001.

A purported Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for Friday's attack. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the assassination of the Paktika governor.

The attacker, with explosives attached to his body, detonated the bomb as the governor left the house in a car, Raufi said.

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