Afghan conflict: Three Nato troops killed in Kabul bomb attack

At least three coalition personnel have died after a Taliban suicide car bomber rammed into a foreign military convoy in the Afghan capital Kabul, Nato says.

The blast killed a Polish soldier and two Americans serving with Nato. A fourth member of the Nato force was seriously injured.

At least 16 civilians were also hurt, Afghan government sources say.

The blast took place in heavy traffic on the airport road near the US embassy at about 08:00 local time (03:30 GMT).

The blast comes amid uncertainty over disputed presidential elections and the withdrawal of most Nato troops by 2015.

A statement from the Nato-led coalition confirmed that three International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) members died in the attack.

Blood-stained soldiers

The BBC's David Loyn in Kabul said the three Nato members were travelling in an armoured vehicle, which was destroyed in the blast.

Our correspondent says the explosion shook buildings across the centre of the capital.

The AFP news agency reported that foreign troops were seen giving first aid to blood-stained soldiers from the convoy.

People at the scene carried those injured in the attack to hospital

The explosion reportedly shook buildings across the centre of Kabul

BBC Persian's Kawoon Khamoosh in Kabul says nearby buildings and cars were hit with broken glass.

Eyewitness, Ahmad Ajmal, told the Associated Press news agency: "When I got out of the vehicle and started walking, an explosion happened, the same vehicle I was in is there and destroyed."

Taliban sources told reporters via e-mail and on Twitter that the group had carried out the attack.

Meanwhile, Isaf said another Nato member was killed "as a result of an individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turning his weapon against Isaf members" on Monday.

The incident took place in Herat, west Afghanistan. A western official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters news agency that the Afghan man had thrown a grenade at his trainers.

Disputed election

The two candidates vying for Afghanistan's presidency, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, have been locked in a dispute over the results of the recent election, which was rocked by allegations of fraud.

Negotiations between Ashraf Ghani (pictured) and Abdullah Abdullah have caused uncertainty

Abdullah Abdullah (pictured) and Ashraf Ghani held talks on Monday on how to end the political deadlock

The two are now negotiating a power-sharing deal and met on Monday to discuss it.

Correspondents say that Taliban insurgents have taken advantage of uncertainty over the presidential election to launch attacks.

In July a Taliban suicide bomber killed four people, including at least three foreign security guards, in an attack on a key counter-narcotics building outside Kabul airport.

That attack came days after security forces repelled an attack on Kabul airport by the Taliban.

Mr Abdullah himself was targeted by a suicide bomb attack in June, also in Kabul. Six people were killed and at least 22 injured when two blasts hit a rally. He survived unscathed.

[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29217167]

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Egypt: Sinai bombing kills six policemen

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Six Egyptian policemen have been killed by a roadside bomb in the Sinai peninsula, the Egyptian interior ministry says.

Two officers were also hurt in the attack, it said.

The group was travelling in an armoured convoy in northern Sinai.

Militants in Sinai have intensified their attacks on the security forces after the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood last year.

Tuesday's bombing took place on the road between Rafah, on the border with Gaza, and North Sinai's provincial capital, el-Arish, the interior ministry said.

Responsibility for past attacks has been claimed by an al-Qaeda-linked group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis.

The group says it is avenging the hundreds of Islamists killed and thousands detained in a crackdown on Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.

[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29218654]

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US air strike supports Iraqi troops under attack

The US has carried out its first air strike against Islamic State (IS) militants under a new strategy to "degrade and destroy" the group.

US officials said the strike destroyed an IS fighting position near Baghdad, five days after President Obama outlined his new anti-IS strategy.

IS has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq and declared a "caliphate".

Meanwhile, Iraq's new PM saw his two nominations for defence and interior minister rejected by parliament.

The rejections of the two key posts are a setback for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

The US has also been building a broad coalition to fight the jihadist group, which is also known as Isil or Isis.

US Central Command said Monday's strike was "the first taken as part of our expanded efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions".

It did not specify the exact location, but Iraqi security spokesman Lt Gen Qassem Atta told AFP news agency it was "an important strike" in Sadr al-Yusufiya, 25km (15 miles) from the capital.

In northern Iraq, Kurdish "peshmerga" forces backed by US surveillance jets and drones have been advancing against IS positions, the BBC's Jim Muir reports.

An attack into the IS-held plain of Mosul, east of the city, began at dawn while on the other side of Mosul, the Kurds have also been pressing towards the town of Zumar, our correspondent says.

The new Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi faces significant political and sectarian divisions

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who has already had most of his cabinet approved, presented his nominees for the unfilled roles of defence and interior minister to parliament on Tuesday.

He nominated Jabir al-Jabri from the Sunni National Forces Alliance for the defence minister and the Shia politician Riyad Gharib as interior minister.

However, both nominees failed to secure enough votes for approval in parliament, which will reconvene again on Thursday to reconsider the posts.

The US also said an IS position near the north-western town of Sinjar had been targeted on Sunday, destroying six IS vehicles.

The strikes are a change in tactics for the US, which had previously carried out strikes in Iraq to protect US interests and personnel, help Iraqi refugees and secure infrastructure.

In total, US fighter planes have conducted more than 160 air strikes across Iraq since August.

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How coalition is assembling against IS:
Country	Air strikes /surveillance	Equipment/personnel	Logistical
United States	Air strikes on IS positions in Iraq, also authorised in Syria	1,000 advisory staff, aircraft carrier hosting 65 aircraft, including F/A-18 fighter jets, Apache attack helicopters and drones	Train and equip moderate Syrian rebels
UK	Iraq - surveillance only	Tornado fighter jets, Hercules transport planes, Chinook helicopters, 1 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft. Arms for Kurds
France	Iraq - surveillance only	Rafale fighter jets + arms for Kurds
Germany		40 advisory staff + arms for Kurds
Australia		600 advisory staff + up to 10 aircraft - F/A-18 fighters, tankers and support aircraft
Gulf countries			Allow use of air bases and air space
Saudi Arabia			Allow bases to be used for training of moderate Syrian rebels
Turkey			Aid and logistical operations from Nato air base

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In a speech last week, President Obama unveiled a four-point plan to defeat IS using air strikes, support for Iraqi troops, anti-terrorism activities and humanitarian aid.

He has said there are no plans to send in US ground troops.

[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29214785]

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Counter-terrorism raid at Cardiff house

Counter-terrorism police have seized material from a house in Cardiff as part of an ongoing operation.

The property in Dogfield Street, Cathays, was searched early on Wednesday by officers and a number of items were taken away.

South Wales Police said there was no immediate threat to public safety.

Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Holland said cooperation with the local community was vital to tackle radicalisation and extremism.

She said: "We use our powers only when proportionate to do so, working closely with partners and communities to try and divert people from engaging in unlawful activity by use of the Prevent programme and initiatives such as the Channel Project.

"The issue is not unique to Cardiff or Wales and is a priority for police across the UK, and suggestions that Cardiff has a particular problem with young men and extreme views is simply wrong. While we do have our share of challenges, our religious communities here in south Wales are strong and constructive."

'Diverse community'

One local resident said following the raid: "There's a fair number of students and families on this street. It wouldn't be the sort of place I'd expect any of this kind of stuff to go on. "

Local councillor Sarah Merry locals would be saddened if the property had housed terrorist activities.

She said: "Generally community relations in Cathays are pretty good. It's a very diverse community. You've got residents who have lived there for a long time, ethnic minorities, as well as students.

"There's a lot of short term lets on the street.

"I've never known anything like this before. Most of the tensions tend to be between students and non-students."

[http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-29235844]

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