Suicide attack in south Afghanistan kills, wounds 42

At least six people were killed and over 38 others wounded in a suicide car bombing in the Daman district of southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan on Sunday, said officials. The spokesman for the governor, Dawa Khan Minapal in a statement said that the car was detonated in front of the Mandisar Hospital leaving six civilians dead and 38 others wounded. He further noted that most of the victims were patients who had come to hospital for treatment adding that three of the wounded were Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers. The blast took place when ANA soldiers were distributing aid to residents. The Public Health Director Dr. Abdul Qayyum Pukhla confirmed receiving six bodies and 38 wounded people including two hospital nurses, seven children and three soldiers. The injured were immediately shifted to nearby Kandahar Civil Hospital. The Taliban rebels claiming the responsibility of the attack said that sixteen foreigners were killed and one of their tanks destroyed, said local media reports. The attack came at a time when Afghanistan is about to undergo the second round of the presidential elections to choose a successor to the President Karzai. The militants have paced up their activities as NATO/ISAF troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan till end of the year.