Suicide bomber S Afghanistan, killed 8

Afghanistan, Sep17: A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a local government compound in southern Afghanistan today, killing four policemen, four civilians and wounding seven others, the district chief said.

He said the attack took place in the Naadali district of Helmand province, which has seen some of the worst violence between the resurgent Taliban on one side and Afghan and foreign troops on the other. The compound houses both the local government and police headquarters.

''The suicide bomber entered the compound dressed in civilian clothes and blew himself up when he got close to the police,'' Naadali district chief Mahboob Khan told Reuters.

The suicide attack came after Taliban insurgents vowed to launch massive operations across the country during the holy month of Ramadan.

Reuters>