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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 5 June 2018

Bombing targets Afghan clerics calling for peace, killing 7

By RAHIM FAIEZ financed and led by the
AMIR SHAH invaders." It urged the
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) clerics to instead side with
— A suicide bomber the Taliban against the
targeted a gathering of "occupation."
Afghanistan's top clerics The Taliban nevertheless
on Monday, killing at denied involvement in the
least seven people and attack. A powerful Islamic
wounding 20 shortly after State affiliate has carried
the religious leaders had out a wave of attacks in
issued a decree against recent months, and would
such attacks and called for also have been opposed
peace talks. to the fatwa.
Ghafor Aziz, police chief U.N. Secretary-General
of Kabul's 5th District, said Antonio Guterres
the bomber struck near the condemned the attack
entrance of a compound and reiterated that "no
where the religious body, cause can justify such
known as the Afghan Ulema violence," U.N. spokesman
Council, was meeting. It Stephane Dujarric said.
was not clear how many "Targeting civilians in this
of the clerics were among way is a clear violation
those killed or wounded. of international law," he
No one immediately added.
claimed responsibility for Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of suicide attack in Kabul Monday, June 4, 2018. Elsewhere in Kabul, three
the attack. Associated Press civilians, including a
Interior Ministry spokesman woman, were wounded
Najib Danish said one Shortly before the attack, member of the council, The fatwa also said that when a sticky bomb
policeman was among the clerics had issued an read out a written statement killing people by any means attached to their car went
those killed and two were Islamic ruling, or a fatwa, from the gathering. — such as bombs and off in the Koti Sangi area
among the wounded. declaring that suicide "The ongoing war in suicide attacks — as well on Monday, said Hashmat
Public Health Ministry attacks are "haram" — Afghanistan is illegal as violent acts like robbery Stanekzai, spokesman for
spokesman Wahid Majroh forbidden under Islamic and has no root in and kidnapping, are sins in the Kabul police chief.
said the 20 wounded were law. Sharia (Islamic) law," the Islam. The Taliban in April
taken to different hospitals The council called on the statement said. "It is illegal Hours after the meeting, announced the start of their
and that the toll could rise. government, the Taliban according to Islamic laws the Taliban issued a annual spring offensive, but
Around 2,000 members of and other militants to halt and it does nothing but statement saying that in recent years, both the
the council had gathered the fighting and enter shed the blood of Muslims." their jihad, or holy war, in Taliban and the IS affiliate
for the meeting, which peace negotiations. It was "We the religious Ulema call Afghanistan is legitimate have carried out near-daily
was held beneath a large, the first time in the 17-year on the Taliban to respond because it is being waged attacks through all seasons.
traditional tent. Aziz said war that the council has positively to the peace offer against U.S. invaders and The Taliban have managed
the bomber struck near the issued such an appeal. of the Afghan government their supporters. It called to seize control of several
end of the meeting, as the Less than an hour before in order to prevent further the Ulema meeting "an districts across the country
participants were about to the attack happened, bloodshed in the country," American process, which and regularly target Kabul,
leave. Ghofranullah Murad, a it added. was planned, organized, the capital.q