950819

Rocket attack

on Kabul kills

2 civilians

KABUL: Two civilians were killed and nine wounded when rockets hit Kabul on Saturday for the second time in 10 days, security officials said, blaming the attack on the Taliban.

"This is the second cowardly attack by the Taliban," a senior security official said. Taliban had denied responsibility for the previous attack on August 9, in which 21 people were reported dead and 24 injured.

The official said a barrage of up to 40 rockets was fired from a truck-mounted BM-21 multi-barrel launcher into south Kabul, during an official holiday to mark the 76th anniversary of national independence following the third Anglo-Afghan War of 1919.

"They are bringing their mobile units up closed for firing, and then escaping," he said, adding that the rocket explosions were concentrated in the Alauddin suburb, just below the former Soviet Embassy.

The Taliban, who have established frontline positions on the main roads to the west and south of the capital, were previously thought to be beyond rocket range of Kabul.

Although more rockets were fired on Saturday this morning than in the previous attack, there were far fewer civilian casualties.

"Of the nine wounded patients brought in, only one was admitted for treatment, the others were discharged with first-aid only," said the staff at Karte Se hospital.

The attack spread fears in the area. "The government has encouraged us to return to our original homes but we are afraid to stay here in face of such rocket attacks," said one resident.

Many modern houses were seen with their iron roofs blown away, whereas traditional adobe-style homes suffered nearly total destruction.-AFP