The bombers without frontiers

[bemildred]

From Tim Albone in Kabul

FEARS that Afghan insurgents are learning from their Iraqi counterparts have grown after the fourth suicide bombing in two weeks. Nineteen police were also killed when militants attacked their convoy.

On Monday two suicide bombers killed at least five people in Kandahar — the spiritual home of the Taleban — including Agha Shah, a government supporter and former militia commander with the US-backed Northern Alliance. The second suicide bomber was intercepted and blew himself up with no other injuries reported.

The police convoy was attacked on the same day in Helmand, where British forces are due to be stationed next year. It was the deadliest attack yet on police, and the victims included the deputy police chief.

The attacks followed the killing of an American soldier in the eastern province of Paktika on Sunday and another suicide attack on British interests in Kandahar, which injured four security personnel. Fifty-six soldiers have been killed by hostile fire in Afghanistan this year, the bloodiest since the Taleban were ousted in 2001.

Times OnLine