Afghan Governor, 3 Others Killed by Roadside Bomb

Official had helped in 2001 US defeat of Taliban

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 13, 2008 8:23 AM CDT

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Afghan Governor, 3 Others Killed by Roadside Bomb — Afghan police officers inspect a crater caused by the explosion in Paghman, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

A bomb detonated near Kabul killed an Afghan provincial governor and three others today, Reuters reports; Taliban militants claimed responsibility for the attack. The governor and former cabinet minister, Abdullah Wardak, had helped the US when it toppled the Taliban in 2001. It was unclear whether the roadside attack was a suicide bombing or done via remote control. Wardak’s driver and two bodyguards were also killed.

Last night, five rockets were launched near a UN compound but caused no damage. Hours earlier, rockets landed at a provincial airport without any damage. Also yesterday, militants beheaded three men accused of spying for the government and a NATO soldier was killed by insurgents. The attacks come during the bloodiest year since the Taliban fell; almost 3,000 have died.
(More Afghanistan stories.)

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