国际英语新闻：Militants mounting pressure to destabilize Afghan gov't

KABUL, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Militants fighting the Afghan government have been stepping up attacks on the administration through deadly suicide attacks and roadside bombings to destabilize the administration and discredit it.

    In the latest wave of violence, the militia targeted the Indian embassy with an explosive-laden car Monday morning, killing and injuring more than 100 people.

Staff of the Indian embassy make their way through the wreckages after a suicide car bomb attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, July 7, 2008.

A suicide bomber followed one car belonging to the Indian embassy and detonated his explosives-laden vehicle at some 8:30 a.m. (0400 GMT) near the embassy gate, where many people were queuing to receive visas, defense ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi said.

    The blast occurred during rush-hour near a main road, causing damage to nearby compound walls and roadside shops.

    A witness, named Saleem Sayed, whose office is near the Indian embassy told Xinhua that fortifications had been built three days ago in front of the embassy gate as rumors said that the Indian embassy received explosion threats.

Afghan security personnel keep watch at the site of a suicide attack at the Indian embassy in Kabul July 7, 2008.

The wounded man, who came out from the explosion site, still bleeding, shouted desperately at the crowd, "My sister is killed, what are the government and foreign troops doing in Afghanistan. They can barely secure the capital, secure the lives of civilians."

    In the deadliest attacks in the Afghan capital over the past couple of years, more than 100 people have been confirmed dead and injured, according to a statement of the Interior Ministry

    The statement said that six police constables were killed and five others sustained injuries while all the remaining are civilians, including women and children.

An Afghan nurse reacts as she holds a wounded girl who has lost her parents in suicide car bomb attack near the Indian embassy in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, July 7, 2008.

However, Najib Nikzad, an official of the Interior Ministry, earlier put the number of those killed as high as 41, while Abdullah Fahim, the spokesman of the Public Health Ministry, said 28 were killed and 141 sustained injuries.

    Indian Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee condemned the "dastardly attack" on the Indian mission and confirmed four Indians were killed in the attack, including Defense Attache Brigadier R.D. Mehta and Press Counselor V. Venkat Rao.

    An Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft will soon leave for Kabul to bring back the bodies of the Indians, he added.

    Two Indonesian diplomats were also injured in the car bomb attack, said Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah.

    The Indonesian embassy building in Kabul, which is located near the Indian embassy, was severely damaged, he said.

    No groups or individuals have claimed responsibility for the bloody explosion, but the Interior Ministry blamed the attack on the enemies of Afghanistan, a term used against Taliban insurgents.

    Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta strongly condemned the incident and termed it as the act of terrorism.

    During talks with Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Jian Parsat, President Karzai strongly condemned the attack and expressed his condolence with the people and government of India.

    On his part, the Indian ambassador stressed that "Such attacks could not undermine the friendly relations with Afghanistan, rather than determines India to further cement its relations and cooperation with the Afghan people."

    Afghan Foreign Minister Spanta, who visited the Indian embassy minutes after the attack, also denounced the gruesome act.

    "The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan strongly condemns today's terrorist attack on the embassy of the friendly and brother country of India," a statement released by Afghan foreign ministry said.

    It also added that such gruesome incidents will not undermine the friendly relations between the two nations by saying, "Afghanistan firmly believes that the historic ties between the two countries are more profound that can be affected by such unfortunate incidents."

    Kai Eide, special envoy of UN Secretary General to Afghanistan, also strongly denounced the incident.

    In a statement issued by UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the envoy said "I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. In no culture, no country, and no religion is there any excuse or justification for such acts. The total disregard for innocent lives is staggering and those behind this must be held responsible."

    Also on Monday, a roadside bomb struck a police van in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province, leaving three policemen dead and wounding four others.

    Insurgency has gained pace over the months and the outgoing month saw the fiercest clashes this year between anti-government elements and Afghan troops backed by international forces.

    The Taliban, who went into insurgency after being overthrown from power six and half years ago, have been expanding their influence from the traditional bases in the south and east to the west and north.

    Militancy and conflicts have claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people with some 700 civilians so far this year in Afghanistan.