Suicide blast hits diplomatic convoy in Kabul

By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide bomber hit a Turkish diplomatic convoy on the outskirts of the Afghan capital on Wednesday, wounding one Afghan civilian, police said, and shots were fired at one of the vehicles, wounding a Turkish guard.

Hours after the attack, another suicide bomber, blew himself up inside the main police station in the southeastern town of Khost, police and residents said.

There was no immediate report of any casualties from the second attack, but ambulances were seen entering the compound.

A second suicide bomber, disguised in an army uniform, shot dead two police at the gate of the compound before being killed by police, residents said.

Afghanistan is going through its bloodiest phase of violence, the worst since the Taliban's removal from power in 2001.

Also on Wednesday, six Afghan police in the southern province of Zabul, and a Filipino road engineer and Afghan guard were killed in two separate ambushes in the southeastern province of Paktia, provincial police officials said.

Afghanistan's ousted Taliban claimed responsibility for all the attacks.

NEW TACTICS