12 Afghan troops dead as violence escalates
SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan -- Guerrillas from the ousted Taliban regime killed at least 12 government soldiers in southern Afghanistan yesterday in a sharp escalation of violence ahead of the landmark presidential election this month.
At least seven more soldiers were killed in other clashes in the southern province of Zabul on Tuesday and Wednesday, provincial officials said.
They said some Taliban members also were killed, but no details were available.
Kheyal Mohammad Husseini, the Zabul governor, said the latest fighting erupted when guerrillas attacked a government post in the Sori district of the restive province, killing 12 soldiers.
The governor did not elaborate on the fighting in Zabul, scene of repeated attacks by the Taliban over the past three days.
On Wednesday, guerrillas attacked a joint convoy of US and Afghan forces. The Taliban said several US soldiers were killed, but there has been no independent verification.
Zabul is near the border with Pakistan and is part of the main bastion of the Taliban. The guerrillas have pledged to derail the Oct. 9 election, in which 17 candidates are standing against incumbent President Hamid Karzai.
Taliban spokesman Hamid Agha told the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press agency that the militia was responsible for a rocket attack Wednesday on a German peacekeeping base in the northern city of Kunduz. Four foreign soldiers were wounded, one seriously.
''All people and forces helping America will come under attack from us," Agha said. The NATO-led peacekeeping force, deployed mainly in Kabul, is investigating the attack.
In Germany, government sources said Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's planned trip to Afghanistan on Oct. 11 would be canceled if the security situation worsened.
More than 1,000 people have been killed since August last year in violence linked to remnants of the Taliban, toppled from power in a US-led war for not handing over Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Most of the presidential candidates have called for the poll to be delayed until security improves, but Karzai has said the vote will take place on schedule.
The election already has been delayed twice.
