(23 Jul 2004)
1. US security on ground
2. US forces discussing incident with local police
3. Afghan soldiers securing area
4. Various shots of US and Afghan forces together
5. US troops and special forces talking
6. Soldiers looking at vehicle debris
7. SOUNDBITE (Pashtu) Pohr Jan, Afghan soldier:
"When I heard the sound of the explosion I came here immediately and I saw four badly wounded US soldiers on the ground. Then the US army came and took the soldiers away. When I wanted to go to the site of the actual explosion I was turned away, they did not let anyone near."
8. US soldiers in jeep
STORYLINE
A powerful car bomb exploded near Kandahar on Friday as a US military convoy was passing, seriously wounding four American soldiers and raining debris over a wide area, police officials said.
The US Military said an initial assessment confirmed just one soldier injured in the incident, one kilometre east of Kandahar city.
About 60 US soldiers and more than 100 Afghan security forces cordoned off the area, a busy road that leads from the American base to the centre of town, warning journalists not to take pictures.
Afghan authorities believed the bomb was set off by remote control because no body was found inside the wreckage.
A purported Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack, one of several reported across southern Afghanistan on Friday and late on Thursday.
Kandahar is the main city in southern Afghanistan, and home to a large US base.
The region sees frequent attacks, often against Afghan and US troops patrolling its dusty roads.
The bombing comes one day after the military announced the pullout of the 2,400-strong 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit that had been patrolling in southern Afghanistan since March.
The Marines were staying at the Kandahar base awaiting their departure to American warships in the region.
More than 600 people, including soldiers, international workers and civilians, have been killed in violence in Afghanistan this year.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
