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Roundup: Suicide car bomb rocks Afghan southern city Kandahar, 23 militants surrender in north

Xinhua, January 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

A suicide car bomb that rocked Taliban former stronghold the southern Kandahar city on Sunday claimed the life of the attacker and injured two others.

In another development, a total of 23 armed militants gave up fighting in the northern Baghlan province on the same day, officials confirmed.

"A suicide car bombing rocked Kandahar city, the provincial capital of southern Kandahar province Sunday morning, killing the attacker and injuring two persons," a police officer told Xinhua but declined to be identified.

The officer said authorized officials would brief the media after completion of investigation.

According to the police officer, the blast took place at around 9:50 a.m. local time (0520 GMT) in Hino Meena locality, leaving the bomber dead and injuring a child and a police.

The suicide bomber driving an explosive-laden car was attempting to enter the Hino Meena locality but police identified and ordered him to stop. However, the bomber blew up the car killing himself and injuring two others, the source contended.

No group has claimed responsibility yet for the offensive, but the Taliban insurgent group routinely claims responsibility for such attacks.

The Taliban outfit has intensified attacks with a string of suicide attacks and roadside bombings over the past couple of months as the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) assumed on Jan. 1 the full security charges of their country from NATO-led troops after a four-year security transition process ended on Dec. 31 last year.

Meantime, a total of 23 armed militants laid down arms and surrendered to the government in the northern Baghlan province on Sunday, police said. "A total of 23 militants who were active in Jurga district over the past couple of years surrendered to the government and handed over their weapons to police here on Sunday," deputy to Baghlan provincial police chief Abdul Rashid Bashir told reporters.

With conceding these people to the government the security will be further improved in Jurga and adjoining areas, the officer further said.

Taliban militants fighting the government have yet to make comments. Enditem