Government Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

Afghan officials say the Taliban are responsible.

"Taliban ambushed Afghan soldiers patrolling in Nawbahar…two of them have also been arrested in the incident," provincial deputy police chief Ghulam Jailani Khan said.

"They used AK-47s and heavy machine-guns and after resisting for three hours they fled to the mountains."

Taliban response

Abd al-Latif Hakimi, referring to himself as a spokesman for the Taliban, said four of their fighters were wounded in the shooting, but put the government death toll at 21.

"We ask the entire Afghan nation not to cast votes in the US forged elections or to be prepared for the worst," Hakimi said.

More than 1,000 people have been killed since August last year in fighting blamed on the Taliban, toppled from power in a US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

Most of the 18 candidates for president have called for the poll to be delayed until security improves and after the dust settles in the US election.

But US approved interim President Hamid Karzai, who is also a US-favourite to keep his job, has insisted the vote will be held as scheduled.

Afghans seek security

Some tribal leaders say the Afghan election is being used to boost Bush’s image for the upcoming US elections and accuse Hamid Karzai of being a US stooge.

Residents from Zabul province also told Aljazeera.net they were being harassed by Karzai’s government officials who coerce them into getting a "Karzai card".

In some areas they are being threatened with deprivation of basic amenities like medical care, security and food aid in order to register.

Abd Al-Waahid, from Zabul province, told Aljazeera.net, "under the Taliban, Afghanistan was the safest place in the world. While the politicians now enjoy themselves, people in the villages are made to bear the consequence. All we ask for is some peace and security for our children".

With only eleven days remaining, Afghans anticipate an increase in the violence.