Afghanistan Foils Suicide Attacks

Posted August 12th, 2012 at 5:35 am (UTC-5)
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Afghan intelligence officials say security forces have arrested five insurgents planning to carry out a series of suicide attacks in Kabul.

Authorities said Sunday the militants were finalizing plans to attack parliament and the residence of Second Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili.

Officials say one of the insurgents is Pakistani. Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of harboring Taliban Islamist insurgents set on overthrowing the Western-backed government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Officials say the militants had a cache of Afghan army uniforms, suicide vests and weapons. The detainees were also in possession of Pakistani identity cards and telephone numbers.

Elsewhere, a spokesman for the Laghman province government in eastern Afghanistan says a roadside bomb has killed a district chief and three of his bodyguards.

In another development, 11 Afghan police officers were killed Saturday in western Nimroz province when one of their colleagues, believed to be a Taliban infiltrator, opened fire on them. Officials say the attacker was killed in the ensuing gun battle.

Last week, seven international troops, including Americans, were killed by Afghan security forces or those disguised in Afghan military uniforms. About 34 coalition service members have been killed this year in so called “green-on-blue” attacks. Green on blue is a reference to the color of Afghan and NATO uniforms.