Military

DATE=10/23/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHANISTAN BOMBING (S/L)

NUMBER=2-319860

BYLINE=MICHAEL KITCHEN

DATELINE=ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

HEADLINE: Suicide Bomber Strikes in Kabul Market

INTRO: Officials in Afghanistan say an apparent suicide bombing has injured at least seven people in downtown Kabul's market district. The bomber was reportedly killed in the blast. VOA's Michael Kitchen in Islamabad has more.

TEXT: Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Latfullah Mashal says the attack took place Saturday along Chicken Street, which is popular with foreign aid workers and soldiers for its jewelry and handicraft shops.

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"There was an explosion this afternoon at Chicken Street, the tourist area (of) Chicken Street. . So far, we do not know who was behind this attack."

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Afghan security officials say the bomber had strapped grenades to himself, and that the injured included two foreign peacekeeping soldiers.

Remnants of Afghanistan's former Taleban rulers and their allies have been conducting an armed struggle against the current government since they were ousted from power in late 2001.

Although the Taleban had vowed to disrupt Afghanistan's presidential election, held earlier this month, Kabul saw little violence during the election period, in part due to tight security around the capital.

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Attacks in Kabul have been rare. In August a car-bomb attack on the office of a private security firm working for the government killed eight people.

Saturday's bombing comes two weeks after the election.

Hand-counting of the ballots is still going on. As of Saturday afternoon, over 80 percent of the ballots have been tallied.

Results so far show current transitional President Hamid Karzai leading, with roughly 54 percent of the vote. If no candidate takes more that half of the total votes, a run-off election will be held between the top two finishers.

Final results will not be announced until an investigation into allegations of election fraud is completed.

Afghanistan is scheduled to hold its first post-war parliamentary elections early next year. (SIGNED)

NEB/MK/TW