Afghanistan: Suicide Bomber Hits French Troop Convoy in Kabul

21 September 2007 -- Afghan authorities say a suicide bomber has struck a convoy of French troops in Kabul, killing at least one soldier and wounding several Afghan civilians.

Police say the attack happened in a western part of the city early Friday.

French soldiers are deployed in the region as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance force in Afghanistan.

The U.S. military says U.S. and Afghan forces raided an insurgent hideout in southern Helmand province, killing about 40 Taleban fighters. It said large caches of arms and ammunition were seized during the operation in the Garmsir district.

Also in Helmand, Afghan officials say at least six civilians were killed in a NATO airstrike in the neighboring district of Girishk on Wednesday

NATO acknowledged there were some civilian casualties. It said British-led ground forces called in air support after coming under heavy fire from the Taleban.

At the United Nations Thursday, the Security Council voted to extend its authorization of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan for one more year.

Fourteen of the council's 15 members approved the resolution late Wednesday. Russia abstained, citing a disagreement about the text.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Moscow supports the NATO mission in Afghanistan, but voiced concern about a clause thanking Japan for its support.

Japanese opposition politicians have threatened to block parliamentary approval of Japan's naval support of operations in Afghanistan.

Source: VOA News

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