Kandahar Governor demands more troops after 12 explosions

KABUL - Tooryalai Wesa, the Governor of Afghanistan’s war-ravaged Kandahar province, has called for the deployment of more troops in and around the southern city in the wake of the twelve explosions that killed dozens of people on Saturday night.

The coordinated attacks around Kandahar city Saturday night included two car bombs, six suicide attackers on motorbikes and bicycles plus four homemade bombs.

At least 33 people died, including 10 women and children attending a wedding celebration in a hall next to a police station that was targeted.

Kandahar province is considered the spiritual birthplace of the Taliban insurgency and is widely known to be the next stop for NATO and Afghan forces after a major combined push to take another militant stronghold in next-door Helmand province.

A newly fortified prison and police headquarters was among the places targetted. Wesa said at least six police officers had died in that attack.

Wesa has said that Kandahar City needs urgent protection in the run-up to the expected offensive. (ANI)