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Bomb Attack Kills 28 Afghans

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By JASON STRAZIUSO and FISNIK ABRASHI, The Associated Press

Published: November 7, 2007

KABUL, Afghanistan - A bomb attack struck a group of lawmakers Tuesday as they were being greeted by children on a visit to a sugar factory in Afghanistan's normally peaceful north. At least 28 people were killed, including five parliament members as well as children.

U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai blamed the "the enemies of peace and security," a euphemism often used for the militant Taliban. But such a spectacular attack could also have been the work of al-Qaida. The Taliban denied involvement.

Video obtained by AP Television News of the scene just before the blast shows schoolchildren, tribal elders and government officials lining the streets to greet 18 lawmakers as they were about to enter the sugar factory in Baghlan, a town about 95 miles north of the capital, Kabul.

Some of the children shook hands with the guests, and one teenager handed red and pink roses to lawmaker Sayed Mustafa Kazimi, a former Afghan commerce minister and a powerful member of the opposition party National Front. Kazimi was killed.

"The children were standing on both sides of the street and were shaking the hands of the officials, then suddenly the explosion happened," said Mohammad Yousuf Fayez, a doctor at Baghlan's main hospital.

Officials gave conflicting reports on whether the attack was a suicide bomber or a planted bomb. If it is determined to be a suicide bomber, that would point strongly to al-Qaida or Taliban involvement

No one claimed responsibility for the attack, and a purported Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, denied the militant group was involved.

"The Taliban doesn't target civilians," he said.

Taliban attacks typically target Afghan and international security forces or government leaders but often kill civilians nearby. Most of their attacks are in the country's south or east.

The Ministry of Interior said at least 28 people were killed, one of the deadliest attacks of the year. But Fayez said more bodies may have been collected from the site by families and not counted in the official toll. Earlier, a government official said 64 people had died.

At least 42 of the 81 wounded were schoolchildren, Fayez said.

"This heinous act of terrorism is against Islam and humanity, and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms," Karzai said in a statement. "It is the work of the enemies of peace and security in Afghanistan."

The White House called the attack "a despicable act of cowardice."

"It reminds us who the enemy is - extremists with evil in their hearts who target innocent Muslim men, women and children," press secretary Dana Perino said.

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