By Zabihullah Tamanna
KABUL, Afghanistan
At least four army officers were killed by a bomb blast in Afghanistan's capital Kabul early Tuesday morning.
"At least four Afghan National Army staff were killed and 12 others were wounded following a remote controlled roadside bomb blast near an army bus in district 7 of capital Kabul today," Ministry of Defense spokesman General Zahir Azimi told The Anadolu Agency.
According to Azimi, six of the wounded were civilians.
"The Ministry of Defense strongly condemns the cowardly actions of the Taliban and condoles the families of martyred officers," he said.
Ahmad Farid, an eyewitness, told the AA: "It was a huge explosion. Fortunately it was early morning and there were fewer pedestrians. People helped to move out the four bodies from the bus and ambulances were taking away the wounded officers and civilians to the hospitals. The poor driver also was killed."
All but one of the seven attacks carried out in Kabul since the formation of a new Afghan government on September 29 have targeted Afghan soldiers.
Army staff use the buses to travel to the Afghan army offices on a daily basis, making them a soft target for Taliban militants.
"I am confused. Why are these officers taking these buses knowing the risk? At least six of seven times their buses have been targeted by the Taliban and several of them lost their lives," Abdul Ghafoor who had assisted the wounded people told the AA.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack on what he called "puppet soldiers," claiming that 12 soldiers had been killed.
www.aa.com.tr/en
