Kabul 'under attack' ahead of elections
Afghan capital 'under attack' ahead of elections
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Tuesday, 18, Aug 2009 05:49
The Afghanistan capital Kabul has witnessed a series of attacks today, two days ahead of the country's presidential election.
Earlier in the day, the presidential palace was reportedly struck by a mortar, with a rocket also striking a nearby police headquarters,
Then later a suicide car bomb reportedly targeted a foreign military convoy, killing at least seven people, two of whom are believed to be United Nations staff, and injuring 50 more.
The attacks come ahead of the attack of the presidential elections of Thursday, with security forces on high alert ahead of polling day.
The Reuters news agency has quoted a Taliban spokesman as claiming responsibility for firing four rockets on Kabul.
The group have allegedly warned they will attempt to disrupt the elections on Thursday, calling for Afghans to boycott the polls and threatening to attack polling stations during the day.
On Saturday, a suicide bomber detonated explosives killing seven people in the capital.
Some 17 million people are eligible to vote in the elections, with the incumbent president Hamid Karzai expected to face strong opposition from his former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah.