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Last update - 11:33 17/02/2008 80 killed in worst suicide bombing in Afghanistan since fall of Taliban By The Associated Press Tags: terrorism, Taliban, Kandahar  A suicide bombing at an outdoor dog fighting competition killed 80 people and wounded dozens more Sunday, an Afghan governor said, in what appeared to be the deadliest terror attack in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. More than 300 people, including several Afghan militia leaders, had gathered to watch the event on the western edge of the southern city of Kandahar. Kandahar Governor Asadullah Khalid said 80 had been killed. Abdullah Fahim, a Health Ministry spokesman, said 67 had been killed and 90 wounded, though he said the toll could rise. Advertisement Witnesses reported that the militant commanders' bodyguards opened fire after the blast. It was not immediately clear how many of the casualties were caused by bullets. Kandahar - the Taliban's former stronghold and Afghanistan's second largest city - is one of the country's largest opium poppy producing regions. The province has been the scene of fierce battles between NATO forces, primarily from Canada and the United States, and Taliban fighters over the past two years. Dog fighting competitions are common in Afghanistan and are considered popular entertainment. They can attract hundreds of spectators who cram into a tight circle around the spectacle. Wali Karzai, brother of President Hamid Karzai and the president of Kandahar's provincial council, said the target of the attack was Abdul Hakim Jan, the leader of a local militia whom Karzai said was killed in the attack. Faizullah Qar Gar, a resident of Kandahar who was at the dog fight, said the militant commanders' bodyguards opened fire on the crowd after the bombing. "In my mind there were no Taliban to attack after the blast but the bodyguards were shooting anyway," he said. Afghanistan's previous deadliest bomb attack came in November in the northern city of Baghlan, when a suicide bombing and subsequent gunfire from bodyguards killed about 70 people, including six parliamentarians and 58 students and teachers. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Power to the people Egypt plans to provide all of Gaza's electricity, to wean dependency on Israel. Calculated escalation Hamas has been trying for some time to create a balance of deterrence with Israel.   1.   Sorry for the killed, but "dog fighting" is no entertainment..... 12:04  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/02/08   2.   80 Killed. 13:26  |  David Nigel Braham 17/02/08   3.   This is one suicide bombing I have 13:35  |  Nechama 17/02/08   4.   Anyone who thinks that dog fighting is.......... 14:50  |  Deborah 17/02/08   5.   Watching dogs fight then they deserve to be killed 15:07  |  SJ 17/02/08   6.   They got more extra imaginated whoreis? 22:59  |  Cristo 17/02/08   7.   if it were the pals putting on the dog fight you would excuse 00:19  |  terrornator 29/02/08

Today Online IDF kills 20, including 5 children, in Gaza, West Bank Responses: 254 Barak: Large-scale Gaza operation is 'real and tangible' Responses: 117 Editorial: Decision on Gaza operation should be daring and level-headed Responses: 65 Abbas: I oppose armed struggle, but won't rule it out for future Responses: 86 Pro-Israel evangelical leader Hagee endorses McCain Responses: 52 Rosner's Domain Battle of Ohio: from James Garfield to Hillary Clinton Voters: Obama's not "tough enough" on foreign policy (WTR) Poll: Your solution for the situation in Gaza Hizballah would pursue a retaliatory operation abroad (WTR) Can Obama restore the Black-Jewish alliance? More Headlines 23:29 IDF kills 20 Palestinians in Gaza, W. Bank, including 5 children 23:36 Defense Min. orders rocket alert sirens be activated in Ashkelon 20:43 Egypt plans to provide all of Gaza's electricity 00:50 Hundreds mourn student killed in Wednesday's Sderot rocket attack 22:58 Shin Bet arrests female terror suspect, 17, from East J'lem 22:46 German Jewish leader urges Merkel to back Israel's stance on Iran 19:03 Barak: Wide ground operation in Gaza is 'real and tangible' 22:05 U.K. officials: Prince Harry serving on front line in Afghanistan 21:43 Teenage Egyptian Bedouin girl shot to death near Israeli border 14:28 Abbas: I oppose armed struggle, but won't rule out option for future 14:01 Jewish school may forfeit basketball playoffs over Sabbath game Previous Editions Select Day 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb

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