Suicide bomber kills 16 in western Afghanistan

KABUL (AP) — Sixteen people are dead after a suicide bomber on a motorcycle attacked a busy city square in western Afghanistan.

The governor of Farah province says two children are among the dead and several more are among the two dozen wounded.

The provincial police chief says "Taliban are causing high casualties because the foreign forces and Afghan forces have been conducting operations against the insurgency in the region." He says an operation three days ago in another part of the province killed five insurgents, including a Taliban commander and a bomb-maker.

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<<CUT …047 (11/20/09)>> 00:08 "his top priorities"

Deb Reichmann (REEK'-man)

AP Correspondent Deb Reichmann reports the bombing comes one day after the inauguration of Hamid Karzai's second term as Afghan president.

<<CUT …046 (11/20/09)>> 00:05 "provincial governor lives"

Deb Reichmann (REEK'-man)

AP Correspondent Deb Reichmann reports the bombing happened in a busy square.

<<CUT …045 (11/20/09)>> 00:13 "the explosion occurred"

Deb Reichmann (REEK'-man)

AP Correspondent Deb Reichmann reports Afghan police tried to stop the suicide bomber.