Car bombing kills 12 people in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (KUNA) -- At least 12 people were killed and 20 others, including workers of a foreign security company, wounded as a result of a car bombing in Afghanistan's capital city Kabul on Wednesday.
A spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI), Nasrat Rahimi told media that the bombing took place in the Qasaba area on Qasim Road in the capital.
He confirmed that 12 people were killed and 20 others wounded, including four employees of the security firm World Guard, wounded in the explosion. Children were among the victims, he added.
Three vehicles, two belonging to the foreign company, were destroyed in the attack. A government counter-narcotics office and several foreign NGOs are located near the scene of the blast.
Afghan Interior Minister Massoud Andarabi also confirmed the casualty saying that a school student was among those killed. He said four workers of a foreign security firm were critically wounded in the bombing.
"Such attacks will not harm Afghans' desire for peace as they render sacrifices every day," the minister remarked.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the bombing. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in a statement condemned the blast, shared condolences with the victims' families, and called the action a crime against humanity.
Earlier on Tuesday, at least four Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel were killed in a friendly air strike in Afghanistan's eastern Logar province. The blast came at a time when recounting of votes is underway for the fourth Afghan Presidential elections since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.
Afghan Presidential candidates have opposed the recounting saying that most of the votes are fraudulent and are non-biometric votes. Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC) was due to announce the final results this week. (end) sbk.mt