Powerful bomb kills at least 10 in southern Afghan city

[Judi Lynn]

Powerful bomb kills at least 10 in southern Afghan city
Tuesday, January 6, 2004 Posted: 1002 GMT ( 6:02 PM HKT)


KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) -- A bicycle bomb exploded Tuesday on a street in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing at least 10 people and shattering cars and windows in the area, witnesses and police said.

The victims all appeared to be Afghans who were walking on the street when the blast occurred, Deputy Police Chief Salim Khan told The Associated Press. He said at least 15 other people were injured.

A soldier, Amanullah Popolzai, said authorities detained a man spotted running away from the scene shortly before the explosion. The man, who appeared to be an Afghan member of the renegade Taliban, was caught trying to hide in a nearby home, Popolzai said.

A badly damaged truck lay in the middle of the road after the explosion, its driver among the dead. The torn metal of about a dozen bicycles littered the asphalt.

The bomb had been attached to one of the bikes, Khan said.
(snip/...)

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/central/01/06/afghan.bombing.ap/

[izzie]

1. Oh are we still in Afghan? Didn't we win?

n/t

[dusty64]

3. My thoughts exactly.

Can't remember the last time I heard anything about the deteriorating situation there. Don't want to report anything that counters our "victories" there and in Iraq, its an election year ya know.

[Aidoneus]

2. the timing appears to have been an unfortunate accident

the target seemed to be the provincial governor (went minutes before he was due to pass by), or a military building (100m away).