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Suicide Attack in Southern Afghanistan Kills 8

   VOA News 24 December 2009

   Afghan  police  say eight people have been killed in a suicide bombing
   near  a  hotel  frequented  by  foreigners  in  the  southern  city of
   Kandahar.
   A  senior  police  official, Fazel Ahmad Sharzad, says the bomber, who
   was driving a horse cart, detonated his explosives after being ordered
   by security personnel to stop moving.

   At  least three other people, including a police officer, were wounded
   in the blast.
   The  explosion  blew  out  several windows in the hotel.  It also took
   place  close  to  a  provincial government building.  Sharzad says the
   target of the attack is under investigation.
   Earlier,  a  suspected Taliban commander wanted for a series of recent
   assassinations  was  captured  during a joint NATO-Afghan operation in
   Kandahar.
   And Canada's Defense Ministry says one of its soldiers was killed by a
   roadside bomb in Kandahar's Panjwai district Wednesday.
   Afghan  officials  say two civilians were killed in a roadside bombing
   in Paktika province in southeastern Afghanistan.

   Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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