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KABUL, Afghanistan –Taliban plan to increase voter intimidation in the eastern Afghanistan district of Alishang in Laghman province in an attempt to suppress and disrupt the Afghan national assembly parliamentary elections scheduled for September, according to an intelligence report.
The report states a group of about 20 insurgents plan to increase the frequency and intensity of civilian attacks to cause the maximum amount of casualties, which is in line with Mullah Omar’s latest directive to Taliban members to capture and kill any Afghan who is supporting or working for coalition forces or the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
“International Security Assistance Force condemns the Taliban’s complete disregard for the rights of Afghans to participate in free and fair elections,” said ISAF Communication Director Rear Adm. Greg Smith. “The Taliban will do anything they can to prevent Afghanistan from determining its own destiny and extending effective governance and stability throughout the country. These enemies of Afghanistan indiscriminately kill and threaten innocent people in a pathetic attempt to force their own views on the Afghan people. The greatest threat to the Taliban remains a free society.”
Insurgents have also increased attacks against election candidates and other peaceful Afghans involved in preparing for the September elections.
On July 29, insurgents ambushed and killed the son of an election campaign chief for a parliamentary candidate and another civilian as they travelled between Nazdara and Koh-e Safi Districts.
On July 23, Taliban insurgents bombed a mosque in Manduzai district of Khowst province, wounding 19 Afghan civilians and killing a parliamentary candidate about to announce his candidacy for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
In recent days Taliban insurgents also abducted the Ghorand District Attorney General and a parliamentary candidate from Herat province, Arbab Mohammad Zahri.
According to ISAF records for the entire month of July 2010, Taliban insurgents have been responsible for at least 140 civilian deaths and the wounding of more than 337 people.
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.01.2010 12:43 |
| Story ID: | 53782 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 817 |
| Downloads: | 340 |
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