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Suicide bombers attack US base in Afghanistan
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-19 16:44 KABUL, Afghanistan -- A team of suicide bombers tried to storm a US military base near the border with Pakistan in a daring insurgent attack on a major American installation, officials said Tuesday. Six suicide bombers attacked the base and three detonated their vests when surrounded, NATO officials said. Afghan officials said at least 13 militants died in the attack, including six suicide bombers. NATO offered a slightly different account, saying three suicide bombers detonated their vests and three more were shot dead. NATO said seven attackers in total were killed. The militants failed to gain entry to Camp Salerno in Khost city after launching waves of attacks just before midnight on Monday, said Arsallah Jamal, the governor of Khost. The base is just a few miles (kilometers) away from Pakistan's border. The attack came one day after a suicide bomber outside the same base killed 10 civilians and wounded 13 others. Soldiers on the ground, fighter aircraft and helicopters were chasing the retreating militants. NATO said its forces identified the attackers about 1,000 yards (meters) outside of the base perimeter and launched helicopter gunships. |
