Taliban suicide bombers dressed in burkas hit cities
Taliban suicide bombers dressed in burkas killed six people in eastern Afghanistan when they stormed government buildings and a military base.
Gardez: Afghan army soldiers keep watch after waves of attacks by the Taliban in Gardez, southeast of Kabul Photo: REUTERS
The attacks in Gardez and Jalalabad came amid a surge in violence ahead of presidential and provincial elections on Aug 20.
Six suicide bombers, some of them also carrying guns, tried to enter several government buildings but were shot dead before reaching their targets.
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Rohullah Samoon, provincial spokesman, said: "One of the bombers detonated in front of the intelligence department, killing three intelligence officers. The other bombers were killed by security forces."
Two police officers were killed in the attacks when two of the bombers managed to detonate explosives strapped to their bodies.
In Jalalabad, two bombers and a policeman were killed in a shoot-out as the militants tried to fight their way into the city airport, a base for Afghan and foreign troops.
Zabihullah Mujahed, Taliban spokesman, said the Islamist militia were responsible for both attacks.
"Fifteen of our mujahideen – suicide bombers who also have guns – entered the governor's compound and other government buildings [in Gardez, Mujahed]," he said.
"Four of our mujahideen entered the Jalalabad airbase – they have killed several Afghan and foreign forces," he added.
* Taliban militants have resurfaced in northern Pakistan as hundreds of thousands of locals are returning to their homes following major military operations.
The government has started a program to gradually return 2.4 million people who fled from Swat, Buner and Dir but pockets of Taliban are still holding out in some areas.
The bodies of four tribesmen whose throats had been slit were found in a deserted place in Koza Bandai in Swat. And on Monday, the army reported separate clashes had left 20 people dead, including an officer.