Afghan convoy attack kills soldier, civilians

[unhappycamper]

Afghan convoy attack kills soldier, civilians
By Rahim Faiez - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Nov 13, 2008 11:08:55 EST

KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide car bomber struck a U.S. military convoy Thursday as it passed through a crowded market in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least eight civilians and an American soldier, Afghan officials said.

The explosion also wounded 74 people near the livestock market where people were trading sheep cows, goats and other animals in the Bati Kot district outside Jalalabad, Afghan police and health officials said.

Charred and twisted remain of cars that were destroyed in the blast smoldered for hours after the attack on Afghanistan’s main road to nearby Pakistan. A U.S. military vehicle was among those destroyed.

At least eight civilians were killed and 74 others were wounded in the attack, said Ghafoor Khan, the spokesman for the provincial police chief. A U.S. soldier was also killed in the bombing, U.S. military said.

The number of civilians killed in the attack is significantly lower from the one reported initially by the U.S. military, which said 20 civilians had died. The military did not explain the discrepancy and referred calls about the casualties to Afghan authorities.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_afghan_convoyattack_111308/%2e



uhc comment: To date six hundred twenty seven soldiers have died in the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan --> http://icasualties.org/oef/