Militant attacks in Afghanistan leave 23 dead

[Coventina]

Source: CNN

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Taliban militants carried out a series of coordinated attacks on government buildings in Afghanistan Wednesday, killing at least 23 people and wounding 69 others.

The militants attacked the ministries of justice, education and finance in Kabul and a prison near the Khair Khana district, north of Kabul, the NATO-led security alliance in the country said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying the attacks were in retaliation for mistreatment of prisoners in Afghan jails, the interior ministry said.

In the aftermath of the attack, the casualty count varied wildly from hour to hour. Afghan officials have scheduled a news conference later Wednesday where they are expected to release more details about the attacks.



Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/11/afghanistan.attacks/

[bemildred]

1. Taliban mounts deadly Kabul attacks

Suicide bombers and armed men have attacked the buildings of the Afghan justice ministry and the department of prison affairs in Kabul, officials say.

At least 19 people have reportedly died in Wednesday's attacks near the presidential palace and the US embassy in the Afghan capital.

Two suicide bombers were shot inside the ministry during a gun battle, with a third suicide bomber shot later, an official said.

At least four Afghan security personnel were killed in the fighting, with 13 more injured.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/02/20092116517109416.html