Bombing kills 35 at Afghan health facility

KABUL -- A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-filled vehicle Saturday inside a health facility in southeastern Afghanistan, causing a powerful explosion that killed at least 35 and injured dozens of others, a provincial official said.

The incident occurred in Azra, a remote district southeast of Kabul near the Pakistan border.

A spokesman for the provincial governor said the blast killed 35 people, including women, children and health workers.

Wary of being blamed for civilian casualties, the Taliban denied responsibility for the bombing. Violence has increased across Afghanistan since the Taliban launched its spring offensive and promised retaliation for the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Dr. Suraya Dalil, Afghanistan health minister, strongly condemned the attack, saying: "Our health centers are delivering health services without any discrimination, and our health centers are not centers of political and military activities."

"Ninety percent of the building has been destroyed in the blast, and it was a heartbreaking incident," said Dr. Abdullah Fahim, an adviser to the health minister.

The French government reported, meanwhile, that a French soldier was killed Saturday after coming under fire from insurgents while on a reconnaissance mission east of Kabul.

The death brings to 47 the number of NATO service members killed in June, and to more than 200 those killed this year, slightly fewer than last year's six-month total.

Recent bombings raised concerns about the readiness of Afghans to take over their own security as the United States and other NATO nations begin to withdraw forces. President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that he plans to withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year.