Saturday's bomb attacks in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar were a warning to US and Nato forces, the Taliban say.
A Taliban spokesman said the attacks were in response to a planned major offensive by international forces against militants in the region.
At least 35 people were killed and some 57 injured in the blasts in Kandahar, Afghanistan's third largest city.
The main target appeared to be Kandahar's prison, officials said, though no prisoners escaped.
Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said the blasts were retaliation for comments made by the commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, that the Kandahar region would be targeted to wipe out the Taliban.
"This was an answer to Gen McChrystal," Mr Ahmadi told the AFP news agency.
"This was to sabotage the operation and to show we can strike anywhere, any time we want," the spokesman said.
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, in Kabul, says that Kandahar is the Taliban's spiritual home.
OK, guys - bring it on. You haven't won a fight against the US yet. Let's see if this is the one.
Counting down the worst of the attacks...
17 Feb 2008: 100 killed by suicide bomber at a dog fight
25 Aug 2009: Car bomb in shopping area kills 43
13 June 2008: 900 inmates flee after truck bomb blasts hole in jail
18 Feb 2008: Blast targeting Canadian troops kills 37 civilians
5 Sept 2002: Bombing in city centre kills at least 30, followed by attempt on President Karzai's life
13 Mar 2010: At least 27 killed in four suicide attacks across city
By: Brant
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment