By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
01 June 2005

Afghan police officer, right, stands inside the mosque after a bomb blast in Kandahar, Afghanistan Wednesday, June 1, 2005

A massive blast has ripped through a mosque in Afghanistan, leaving at least 20 dead and dozens wounded. A suicide bomber blew himself up during the funeral of a murdered anti-Taleban cleric.

The blast occurred when the mosque in the southern city of Kandahar was packed with mourners at the funeral of Mullah Abdul Fayaz, who was killed Sunday by suspected Taleban gunmen.

Mr. Fayaz was a prominent pro-government cleric and last week had condemned the Taleban insurgency in a speech to more than 500 religious leaders.

Interior Ministry spokesman Latfullah Mashal says the police chief of the capital, Kabul, was among those killed in Wednesday's attack. Mr. Mashal says security forces across the region are on guard against further attacks.

It's difficult to prevent a suicide attack but police are trying their best to provide enough security and deploy enough police officers in different parts of the city, said Latfullah Mashal.
 

Unidentified Afghan man donates blood for the injured victims of the bomb blast

The bombing was the deadliest so far this year and one of the worst since U.S.-led forces ousted the Taleban regime in 2001.

After a winter lull, insurgents have stepped up their attacks in recent weeks with a series of high profile assassinations, bombings and missile attacks.

A missile attack on NATO headquarters in Kabul Monday slightly damaged a military barracks but no injuries were reported.

NATO spokeswoman Karen Tissot Van Patot told reporters Wednesday international forces would not be intimidated by terrorist acts.

These events serve to remind us all that we must remain determined and coordinated to thwart those who would conspire to disrupt the peace and security we are all trying to maintain, said Karen Tissot Van Patot.

However, international observers say the stakes are increasingly high with national parliamentary elections scheduled for September.

Election organizers say security, especially in the south, remains a significant challenge to any successful vote.

The United States and NATO are expected to expand their troop presence in the months leading up to the election.

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