61 Afghanis Killed in War Attacks, Massacres Continue Without End, November 29, 2008

61 Afghanis Killed in War Attacks, Massacres Continue Without End

November 29, 2008

Taleban's ex-spokesman shot dead

29. November 2008, 01:02
BBC News -

A former high-profile spokesman for the Taleban has been shot dead in eastern Afghanistan, officials have said.

Mohammad Hanif was killed at his home in the province of Nangarhar along with three other people who were believed to be his relatives.

Some reports said the assailants were wearing Afghan army uniforms.

Dr Hanif, as he was known, was arrested in January 2007, but freed from custody this year. It was thought he no longer had any contact with the Taleban.

Convoy attack

District official Sayed Mohammad told Associated Press news agency the attackers had used ladders to climb into Dr Hanif's home in Chaparhar.

Another official said the others killed were Dr Hanif's cousin, brother-in-law and nephew and that the attack may have been linked to a family feud.

Dr Hanif began speaking for Afghanistan's former rulers in October 2005.

He was held in January 2007 in the border town of Towr Kham in Nangarhar soon after entering from Pakistan.

Dr Hanif had been highly active, regularly e-mailing news organisations with the Taleban's version of events in the east of the country.

He was appointed after the capture in Quetta, Pakistan, of former Taleban spokesman Latifullah Hakimi in October 2005.

Afghanistan's intelligence agents released a video in which Dr Hanif alleged Taliban leader Mullah Omar was living inside Pakistan - a claim denied by Islamabad.

Separately more than 200 Taliban fighters attacked an Afghan army convoy in the north-western province of Badghis late on Thursday, killing at least 13 Afghan soldiers and policemen.

The convoy was transporting dozens of vehicles bringing winter supplies to Bala Murghab district.

Abdul Ghani Sabri, the deputy provincial governor, said 11 security officials were also wounded and seven Taliban fighters killed in a three-hour long battle.

Analysts said the ambush was one of the Taliban's most audacious.

US: Taliban commander killed in Afghanistan

29. November 2008, 01:00
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) –

U.S.-led coalition troops killed a Taliban commander during a raid in southern Afghanistan, officials said Saturday.

Soldiers killed four Taliban fighters in Friday's operation, including the Taliban commander named Haji Yakub, the U.S. military said in a statement.

Yakub directed roadside bomb and suicide attacks against Afghanistan's government and coalition forces in Ghazni province, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Afghan and coalition forces killed 33 alleged Taliban fighters when their patrol came under attack in southern Helmand province, a military said. The troops responded to the attack with small-arms fire and air support, it said.

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