From: EurasiaDigest (digest@eurasianet.org)
Date: Fri Feb 03 2006 - 10:18:58 EST
SUICIDE ATTACK KILLS SEVEN IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN...
A passenger blew up a car at a security checkpoint in the Bak district of eastern Khost Province on 1 February, killing three Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel, two civilians, the bomber, and the driver, RFE/RL 's Radio Free Afghanistan reported. Provincial security chief General Mohammad Ayyub told RFE/RL that soldiers stopped the car at a checkpoint before a man in the backseat -- wearing traditional women's clothing -- detonated explosives close to his body. Three ANA soldiers and one civilian were also injured in the incident. Mohammad Ayyub blamed the attack on "enemies of Afghanistan" -- a term frequently used by Afghan authorities to denote the neo-Taliban -- and their foreign backers. AT
...AS NEO-TALIBAN CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY
Mullah Abdul Samad, identified as a "Taliban commander," in Khost on 2 February claimed responsibility for the Bak suicide attack, Peshawar-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported. Speaking to AIP by telephone, Abdul Samad said a "Taliban fighter, Mohammad Rahman," carried out the attack and went on to say that 12 ANA and U.S. troops were killed and four vehicles were destroyed. Abdul Samad also rejected reports that the attacker was wearing women's clothing. Afghan authorities have said that no U.S. troops were in the vicinity of the attack. People purporting to speak on behalf of the neo-Taliban have exaggerated casualty claims in past attacks. AT
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