Taliban Rebels Ambush Police Convoy, Killing at Least 19 Officers

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB6UCDVOEE.html

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - About 60 militants ambushed a police convoy as it slowed to cross a river in southern Afghan mountains, sparking a fierce gunbattle that left 19 officers dead in the deadliest blow yet for the fledgling security force, officials said Tuesday.

In later violence, two rockets exploded near the U.S. Embassy in the center of the Afghan capital Wednesday, wounding two people hours hours before Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was due to arrive on an official visit. Rice's visit on Wednesday is her second trip to Afghanistan as secretary of state.

The attacks underlined the challenges facing Afghanistan's U.S.-backed government as it struggles to strengthen a fragile democracy while dealing with a stubborn rebellion by insurgents that has left about 1,400 dead in the past half-year.

In the attack late Monday on the police convoy, suspected Taliban rebels hiding behind rocks surrounded the vehicles as they slowed on a dirt road to cross the river in Helmand province, then opened fire with heavy machine-guns and AK-47 assault rifles, Interior Ministry spokesman Yusuf Stanikzai said.

[enigma000]

1. Freedom fighters attack! n/t

[Liberal_Dog]

2. I Thought The Taliban Was History

Didn't we get rid of them and end the war in Afghanistan four years ago?

At least that is what our outstanding news media led me to believe. :sarcasm: