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AFGHANISTAN-SUICIDE BOMBING
At least 8 killed in suicide bombing in S. Afghan province
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Oct 9, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – At least eight people
were killed and 10 others wounded after a suicide bomb blast struck an
election campaign rally in Lashkar Gah city, capital of Afghanistan’s
southern province of Helmand on Tuesday, a local official said.
“A suicide bomb blast occurred roughly at 2:50 p.m. outside a parliamentary
election candidate’s office when an election-related gathering was underway,”
Omar Zwak, a provincial government spokesman, said in a statement.
Parliamentary hopeful Saleh Mohammad Achikzai received minor injuries after
the explosion.
Spokesman Omar added that an investigation was ongoing into the incident
and additional details will be released later on the day.
He said the number of casualties were likely to rise.
The casualties were shifted to hospitals by the security forces and rescue
teams.
The violence has been on the rise as Afghan security forces struggle
against a surge in attacks by militants at the time when the country is
preparing for parliamentary and district councils elections slated for later
this month.
During the upcoming Oct. 20 elections, nearly 9 million registered voters,
including 3 million women, out of some 12 million eligible Afghans, will cast
their ballots to elect members of the 249-seat lower house of parliament for
a five-year term while they will also vote to elect members of the district
councils.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
BSS/XINHUA/FI/ 1744 hrs