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Suicide Bombing Kills 13 in Afghanistan

   VOA News  March 28, 2011

   Officials in eastern Afghanistan say a suicide car bomber has attacked
   a  construction  company,  killing  at least 13 people and wounding 50
   others.
   Authorities  said  Monday  the  attack happened late Sunday in Paktika
   province, when the bomber detonated a truck full of explosives.
   A  provincial  spokesman said the blast killed civilian workers at the
   site.
   No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
   In  northeastern  Kunar  province,  officials said Sunday that Taliban
   militants have abducted 50 people, including police officers.
   Local  police  chief  Khalilullah  Zaiyee said officers were part of a
   convoy  of  four  vehicles traveling in Chapa Dara district.  He said
   those  abducted were not armed.  It is not clear how many were police
   officers or recruits.
   A  Taliban spokesman confirmed the abduction, saying the group has not
   yet  decided  what to do with the captives.  Local elders are helping
   in the negotiations to free the men.
   In  the  past, the Taliban has released captured police officers after
   they pledged to stop working for the government.

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

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