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NATO Had Intelligence on Militant Threat Before Afghan Attack
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1671550:A6F02AD83191E160FE972205B33DCC3E9574F7DCC14957C0 Taleban claimed
responsibility for blast and said it was targeting US Vice President
Dick Cheney





Dick Cheney center, arrives for a meeting with Afghan President Hamid
Karzai, in Kabul, 27 Feb 2007The NATO force in Afghanistan says it had
prior intelligence reports that militants were operating near a U.S.
military base hit by a suicide bomber during a visit by U.S. Vice
President Dick Cheney.

NATO spokesman Tom Collins said Wednesday recent intelligent suggested
there was the threat of a bombing near the Bagram air base, about 60
kilometers from Kabul.

At least 22 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up
Tuesday among a group of Afghan workers outside the base. Military
officials say 27 people were wounded in the attack.

Cheney was not hurt. He arrived back in Washington early this
Wednesday morning.

The Taleban has claimed responsibility for the blast and said it was
targeting Cheney.

Collins said it is unlikely the militant group knew Cheney was at the
base, because his visit was unannounced. He stayed there Monday night
after bad weather postponed his trip to Kabul.

After the explosion, the U.S. vice president said he was briefly moved
to a bomb shelter.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


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