15 killed in wave of attacks in Afghanistan

As reported in 'The Japan News' : 15 killed in wave of attacks in Afghanistan 9:29 pm, July 27, 2014 The Associated Press KABUL (AP)—Attacks across Afghanistan, including hundreds of Taliban fighters swarming police checkpoints across the south, killed at least 15 people Saturday, officials said, as a recount in the country’s presidential election halted before a major holiday. The Taliban attacks focused on Kandahar Province, where Taliban fighters killed six police officers—including a district police chief—in assaults on some 15 checkpoints, said Dawa Khan Menapal, a spokesman for the provincial governor. Menapal said reinforcements later arrived to combat the Taliban fighters and the combat continued into Saturday night. In Helmand Province, a bomb hidden inside a motorcycle killed four civilians and wounded four others in Marjah district, said Omer Zwak, a spokesman for the province’s governor. In Kabul, a bomb blast killed an army officer and wounded his driver, said a police spokesman. In Herat Province, gunmen on motorcycles shot and killed two army officers in the city of Herat, said a provincial security official who spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t authorized to brief journalists. In a blow to hoped-for peace talks, the Taliban’s reclusive leader warned Friday that a bilateral security pact allowing thousands of U.S. troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the end of this year will mean more fighting. Mullah Mohammad Omar called on both Afghan presidential candidates not to sign the agreement. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission stopped a recount in the runoff presidential election. Commission Chairman Ahmad Yousuf Nouristani told reporters that the recount will resume later this week after the Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.