Asia-Pacific

Afghan attacks kill 8 CIA employees, 5 Canadians

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-01 10:12

KABUL: A suicide bomber penetrated a foreign army base in Afghanistan to kill eight US CIA employees on Wednesday, one of the spy agency's largest death tolls.

The Taliban on Thursday claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing.

A separate attack killed four Canadian troops and a journalist.

A "well-dressed" Afghan army official detonated a suicide vest at a meeting of CIA officials in southeastern Khost province, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

"This deadly attack was carried out by a valorous Afghan army member when the officials were busy gaining information about the mujahideen, in the (fitness) club," he wrote in an email.

The attack is one of the most ambitious of the war, highlighting the Taliban's reach and coordination at a time when violence has reached its highest levels since the overthrow of the Taliban regime by US-backed Afghan forces in 2001.

It was also the second Afghan army killing in as many days on the foreign troops and officials who are meant to be mentoring them.

When asked how the attacker managed to launch an assault in a foreign military base, Mujahid replied: "Since the man was an officer, he had not much difficulties."

US officials said the dead Americans were CIA employees. Some people were also wounded in the explosion, defense officials said, but no US or NATO troops were among them.

The CIA has been expanding its presence in the country, stepping up strikes against Taliban and Al Qaida militants along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The five Canadians - four soldiers and a journalist - were killed when their armoured vehicle was hit by a bomb in southern Kandahar province, the Canadian Defense Ministry said.

The blast, about 4 km outside Kandahar, struck the patrol as it was visiting community reconstruction projects.

Michelle Lang, a 34-year-old health reporter with the Calgary Herald, was the first Canadian journalist to die in Afghanistan. She arrived in the country just two weeks ago on her first assignment in Afghanistan.

Lang "was one of those journalists who always wanted to get to the bottom of every story so this was an important trip for her," said a Calgary Herald colleague, Colette Derworiz.

Alberta Health and Wellness Minister Ron Liepert said in a statement: "Michelle ... was tenacious in her quest to inform Albertans, and for her diligence she was very well respected."

The attack brought Canada's military deaths in Afghanistan to 138. Canada has a 2,800-strong military mission in Afghanistan.

Reuters - AP