Suicide bomber strikes election rally in southern Afghanistan

Parliamentary candidate was wounded and at least eight people died in the capital of Helmand province

epa07079213 Afghans stand beside an electoral campaign poster that was uninstalled by unknown men, as security has been intensified following the announcement by Taliban militants to boycott the upcoming Parliamentary elections, in Helmand, Afghanistan, 08 October 2018. The Taliban on 08 October appealed to the people of Afghanistan to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country, calling them an attempt to legitimize the presence of foreign troops in the country. The campaign for the elections, set for Oct. 20, began around 10 days ago and will continue for around three weeks. EPA/WATAN YAR

At least eight people died in the suicide bombing that hit an election rally. EPA

Oct 09, 2018

At least eight people died and ten were wounded when a suicide bomber attacked an election rally in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday.

The bomber detonated a device at the rally in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of Helmand, a southern province bordering Pakistan that has experienced some of the fiercest fighting of the Taliban insurgency.

The Taliban has increased its attacks in strategic provinces before an election on October 20. On Monday the militants ordered Afghans to boycott the vote, while demanding a withdrawal of foreign forces as the only way to end the 17-year war.

The attack in Lashkar Gah took place in the office of a parliamentary election candidate while a campaign rally was under way. The candidate, Saleh Mohammad Achekzai, was wounded in the attack, said government official, Omar Zwak.

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