Afghanistan 2009

Five die in attack on Afghan governor's compound

JESSICA LEEDER

Globe and Mail Update

April 25, 2009 at 2:13 PM EDT

Kandahar, Afghanistan — Five people are dead and ten others injured after a coordinated suicide bombing on the grounds of the Kandahar Governor's palace Saturday.

One of the bombers, who were travelling on foot, detonated at the main gate of the compound inside a checking area where two police officers were examining identification documents of people entering the grounds. A civilian who was inside the checking station at the time was killed, as well as two guards.

Two other bombers, both of whom breached the palace gates, were killed by guards, said Governor Tooryalai Wesa said in an afternoon news conference, where he also called the bombers "cowards."

While no one inside the palace was killed, several people there were injured by broken glass and mirrors that shattered with the force of the blasts. Several of the injured, which included some street beggars, remained in hospital Saturday night.

At his press conference, the governor also delivered a message from President Hamid Karzai, who asked him to convey to Kandahar residents that security will soon improve in the city.

It's a promise residents are hoping will come true: within the past month there have been several deaths due to assassinations and suicide bombings. The most high profile of those was an incident in which four suicide bombers stormed a provincial council compound and killed 13 people, including government officials.

While the Taliban claimed responsibility in that assault, no one has done so in Saturday's palace bombing.