“A suicide bomb in Afghanistan’s capital killed at least a dozen civilians and five U.S. troops on Tuesday — a bloody strike claimed by the Taliban and deplored by the NATO coalition.

The blast, which occurred on a busy road near a NATO-led military convoy and a registration center for the Afghan Army, rocked an area close to government buildings fortified with security.

Officials were still trying to sort out the casualty numbers. Local medical officials said at least 12 civilians were killed and 48 others were injured. The British Foreign Office put the civilian death toll at 19.

“A crew of suicide bombers attacked a central commercial area dotted with guesthouses frequented by foreigners, setting off an hours-long gunbattle with Afghan police early Friday and killing at least 17 people.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the dramatic raid, which began around daybreak and wounded at least 32 people. The assault was the latest in a string of attacks to rock the capital city, whose residents generally feel a world away from the raging rural insurgency that U.S.-led forces are seeking to contain in a new push in southern Afghanistan.

“Ten people were killed in separate motorcycle bomb attacks in Afghanistan Tuesday morning, government officials said.

One bombing occurred in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, said Daoud Ahmadi, the spokesman for the provincial governor. The explosive device, that was concealed on a bicycle, exploded in a bus station. A woman and child were among the eight killed and 16 wounded, Ahmadi said.

The attack occurred in the same province where NATO troops have launched an offensive against the Taliban. Ahmadi said the attack could have been related to military offensive in Marjah, about 15 miles to the southwest of Lashkar Gah.

‘The enemy want to distract attention away from Marjah where they have been defeated,’ the governor’s spokesman said.”

(Source: 10 killed in attacks in Afghanistan – CNN.com.)

“Security has been tightened in the Afghan capital Kabul a day after the city centre was attacked by Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers.

Troops searched vehicles entering the city and increased the number of checkpoints. In addition there were extra foot and vehicle patrols.

“A suicide bomber apparently planning to attack a meeting of NATO and tribal officials blew himself up in a busy market district Thursday in central Afghanistan, killing at least 20 people, officials said, making it the deadliest attack against civilians in more than three months.

The attack came a day after the U.N. released a report showing that the number of Afghan civilians killed in war-related violence was at its highest level last year, and suicide bombings and other attacks blamed on insurgents were the leading cause of death. “