17 die in militant attack on Afghan govt building

Kandahar: Three Taliban suicide bombers disguised in army uniforms stormed a government office in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday after a fourth detonated a car bomb, officials said. At least 17 people, including the four assailants, died.

The Taliban claimed responsibility.

The coordinated assault in Kandahar underscored a new tactic by Afghan militants to launch multi-directional attacks against government offices. It mirrored a February attack in Kabul, where militants assaulted three government buildings simultaneously, killing 20.

Wednesday's attack on Kandahar's provincial council office killed seven civilians and six police officers, President Hamid Karzai's office said.

Ahmad Wali Karzai, the head of the council and President Karzai's brother, said the attack came during a meeting of tribal leaders. He said 17 people were wounded.

Among those killed were the province's education director and its deputy health director, Ahmad Wali Karzai said. The president's brother also said he left the council office about five minutes before the attack and was not harmed.

The assault comes amid a burst of violence in Afghanistan, where some 60 militants have died in battles the last three days.