At least 43 dead as massive bomb blast rocks Afghan city

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 10:31 AM on 26th August 2009



A massive bomb has killed at least 43, and wounded 65 after it exploded last night in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan.

The explosion ripped through a central area of Kandahar city just after nightfall, according to the Interior Ministry.

It took place as the first preliminary results were released from last week's presidential vote.
Attack: An Afghan soldier stands guard at the site of the explosion which took place in the southern city of Kandahar last night

Attack: An Afghan soldier stands guard at the site of the explosion which took place in the southern city of Kandahar last night

A Taliban spokesman today denied any responsibility for the attack, saying that the militant group condemns the attack.

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Spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said: 'We are denying responsibility, and condemn this attack in which innocent civilians were killed.'

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The bombing, which flattened buildings and sent flames shooting into the sky, occurred in a district that includes U.N. facilities and an Afghan intelligence office.

Rescue workers were still pulling injured people from the rubble this morning.

Rescue worker Mohammad Darwish said: 'There are some people still trapped in the buildings and we are trying to get them out.'
Condemned: A Taliban spokesman has denied responsibility for last night's bombing, which killed 43 and wounded 65

Condemned: A Taliban spokesman has denied responsibility for last night's bombing, which killed 43 and wounded 65

The Interior Ministry said the blast was from remote-controlled explosives planted in a truck.

Local officials said a cluster of vehicle bombs detonated almost simultaneously close to a Japanese construction firm that involved in reconstruction efforts in the city.

The company recently took over a contract to build a road that insurgents had stalled for several months.

Innocent victims: Rescue workers say civilians remain trapped in the rubble, and are continuing to rescue injured people this morning

Innocent victims: Rescue workers say civilians remain trapped in the rubble, and are continuing to rescue injured people this morning

The violence came as Afghans heard preliminary results of last week's presidential vote, putting President Hamid Karzai and his main rival, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, virtually equal.

Meanwhile, a provincial official was killed in northern Afghanistan today by a bomb planted in his car, authorities said.

Sayed Jahangir, the justice ministry director for Kunduz province was driving to work in the provincial capital when his vehicle exploded, said Ahmad Sami Yawar, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

Mr Yawar said he did not know why Mr Jahangir would have been targeted, other than his role as a government official.

Kandahar is the spiritual home of the Taliban and the city was hit by rockets on the morning of election day as Taliban militants attempted to disrupt last Thursday's polling with violence.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1209121/Bomb-kills-43-injures-65-massive-Afghanistan-attack.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0PHZ77DH9