Hamid Karzai: The Kandahar Bombing is a Brutal and Inhumane Act - 2004-01-07

Hamid Karzai, the interim President of Afghanistan, condemned the bombing in Kandahar that resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people, most of whom were children. Mr. Karzai described the attack as a 'brutal and inhumane' act and stated that it has strengthened his resolve to fight terrorism. According to police, this explosion occurred shortly after a smaller blast that injured a child. They say the second explosion took place while a group of students were present at the scene. Hospital officials reported that eight children lost their lives in the Kandahar explosion, and 58 others were severely injured. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, conveyed his condolences to the Afghan government and the grieving families of the victims. It is still unclear whether there was a specific target in this attack, but the explosion occurred shortly before the arrival of a governor named Yusuf Pashtun at the site and near an Afghan military base, where American soldiers regularly patrol. Several witnesses at the scene told a Voice of America reporter that they saw a man planting a bomb in a fruit cart, while other reports indicated that the bomb was attached to a bicycle or a truck. Afghan military officials stated that a person believed to be a member of Al-Qaeda is in custody in connection with the first explosion. This bombing followed a shooting on Tuesday and a grenade attack on Monday at the UN Refugee Agency office in Kandahar, which caused damage to the office but no casualties. Additionally, on Monday evening near Zabul province, at least one Afghan soldier and a local commander were killed in sectarian clashes.