Bomb explodes near US Afghan base, police wounded
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-04-14 14:10

A bomb exploded in front of a U.S. military base in Afghanistan's turbulent southern Kandahar province on Wednesday, wounding a senior Afghan police official and two of his bodyguards, witnesses said.

The explosion ripped through a car carrying General Salim Khan on a road in front of a base of the Provincial Reconstruction Team of the U.S. military in Kandahar city, they said.

The bomb appeared to have been planted on a speed bump and detonated by remote control, witnesses said.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack but southern Afghanistan is gripped by violence led by the Taliban militia that were ousted by U.S.-led forces in 2001.

Provincial Reconstruction Teams usually consist of about 60 soldiers involved in military and civilian projects.

U.S. and Afghan soldiers cordoned off the area and local authorities were not available to provide further details.

The Taliban and their al Qaeda allies have declared a jihad, or holy war, on foreign and Afghan government troops and aid organizations. Since August last year, more than 600 people have been killed in violence blamed mainly on the resurgent Taliban.