Violent clashes cause 74 deaths
in Afghanistan

KABUL, 18 May (PL)— Violent clashes and a suicide car bomb caused at least 74 deaths, including U.S. and Canadian military personnel, in the turbulent southern provinces of Helmand, Kandahar and Herat, reported official sources.

According to Afghani Ministry of Interior spokesperson General Yosuf Stanizi, hundreds of alleged Taliban rebels attacked a police station in the Mussa Qala district of Helmand province.

During 12 hours of fighting, 13 police officers were killed and another six were wounded, whilst the attackers suffered 40 losses.

Colonel Quentin Innis, the spokesperson for the Canadian troops in Afghanistan, reported that during fighting in the neighboring Kandahar province, Canadian Capitan Nichola Goddard and 18 suspected Taliban members were killed and three Afghanis were wounded. Another 35 alleged rebels were detained.

Meanwhile, a suicide car bomb in the Baghi-Milat zone of Herat city, caused the death of a U.S. police training officer according to the U.S. embassy in Kabul.

Spokesperson Chris Harris confirmed that the U.S. employee of the State Department’s anti-drug sector at the international office, who worked in a training program for Afghani police, died in a dynamite explosion.

In addition, Lieutenant Toby Jackman, spokesperson for the international contingent of 37 countries, said that another five military personnel whose nationality has not been confirmed were killed during the incident.