Afghan base suicide bomb attack 2 Afghan guard killed

KABUL: A suicide bomb attack a truck bomb near the entrance of a heavily-guarded US-run base in eastern Afghanistan 2 Afghan guards killed two officials said.

The Taliban, the main militant group leading an escalating 10-year insurgency, claimed responsibility for the attack in Gardez, the capital of eastern Paktia province, which borders Pakistan.

“The bomber was in a vehicle. He tried to enter the base (but) the guards did not let him. He was frustrated and detonated at the very, very first gate,” a coalition spokesman said.

“Two Afghan-contracted guards were killed,” he said.

Earlier the Paktia provincial police chief told AFP three people, two contracted guards and a border police officer in a nearby police base had been wounded.

“A suicide bomber tried to attack the base with a truck bomb but he was encountered at the first gate by Afghan guards. He set off his bombs there,” Paktia provincial police chief, Abdul Ghafar Sapai told.

He said the distance between the first barrier and the main gate was more than 100 metres (300 feet).