Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 2, 2007

Afghanistan Suicide Bomb Adds to Rising Death Toll
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19B5547:A6F02AD83191E1609FBA04E402E614969574F7DCC14957C0 Rising violence in
Afghanistan, now at  highest level since US-led invasion in 2001,
prompted offer of new rewards for capture of Taleban commanders





Afghan firefighters spray water at the site of a suicide attack as the
targeted bus of Afghan police is seen loaded on a truck in Kabul,
Afghanistan on Tuesday, 02 Oct 2007

A suicide bomber has killed at least eleven people in Afghanistan's
capital, Kabul, after targeting a police bus. Rising violence in
Afghanistan, now at the highest level since the U.S.-led invasion in
2001, has prompted the offer of new rewards for the capture of Taleban
commanders. Daniel Schearf reports from Islamabad.

The suicide bomber killed at least six police and five civilians,
including three school children, after trying to board a police bus on
Tuesday.

Afghanistan's Interior Ministry spokesman, Zemarai Bashari, said seven
other people were injured in the blast. He said one policeman on the
bus shot the bomber as he tried to get on board, but he was still able
to detonate his explosives.

"The police that was sitting in the front seat did a very brave job
and he was really a hero," said Bashari. "He stopped the bomber and
warned him to stop. But, after not obeying the orders, he opened fire
on the bomber and after getting injured the bomber blew himself up."

The attack was the second suicide bombing in Kabul since Saturday when
a similar bomber targeted an Afghan Army bus, killing 30 people and
injuring many.

A purported Taleban spokesman has claimed responsibility for both
bombings.

Afghanistan has suffered a big jump in suicide bombings in recent
years, from only a few in 2004 to more than 100 so far this year.

A United Nations report last month said most Afghan suicide bombers
were trained or supported in neighboring Pakistan's tribal regions
where Taleban militants are believed to have bases and are strongly
supported by locals.

The report said many suicide bombers are recruited from Pakistani
religious schools and are often coerced into sacrificing themselves.

Violence in Afghanistan has increased dramatically since the U.S.-led
invasion drove the Taleban from government and into hiding. Several
thousand people have been killed in the last year alone.

The U.S. military has issued new rewards, of up to $200,000 each, for
information leading to the capture of twelve mid-level Taleban
commanders.

The Afghan president has also offered to hold peace talks with the
Taleban. The militant Islamic group refuses to enter into any talks as
long as foreign troops remain in Afghanistan.


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