Suicide bombing kills 21 in Afghanistan's KandaharJune 6, 2012 - 11:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A suicide motorcycle bombing killed 21 people and wounded 22 others Wednesday, June 6 in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar, police said, according to AFP. The bomber struck in a parking lot crowded with dozens of trucks supplying the NATO-run Kandahar Air Base and a makeshift bazaar, provincial police chief General Abdul Raziq told AFP. "All casualties are civilians -- not a single military person," he said, describing most victims as drivers, their assistants and workers. The Kandahar Air Base is the largest NATO military base in southern Afghanistan, which has been a flashpoint for Taliban insurgents over the past decade. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing, but similar attacks in the past have been blamed on the hardline Islamists trying to topple the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai. Suicide attacks are a common Taliban tactic, along with roadside bombings that often miss their military targets and kill civilians. Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban, who took power in Kabul in 1996 and ruled for five years before being ousted in a US-led invasion for refusing to hand over al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |