Afghan attack shows 'tactic change'

Canadian peacekeepers consoled themselves after treating injured

The commander of Canadian peacekeepers in Afghanistan says a suicide attack which killed one of his soldiers shows opponents are changing their tactics.

Major General Andrew Leslie said it was not yet clear who was responsible, despite the ousted Taleban regime claiming to be behind the blast.

One Afghan civilian also died and three other Canadian troops were among 10 hurt in the attack in Kabul.

In the US, senators criticised Nato for not sending more troops to Afghanistan.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was told the country remained in a "fragile state" and the international community must provide more peacekeeping troops.

This does indicate a change - one we are cognisant of and will watch closely Major General Andrew Leslie

General Leslie said the fatal suicide bombing had rocked the entire international force in Kabul.

The 2,000 Canadian troops make up the largest contingent of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).

"The last suicide attack was in June against our good German colleagues and friends," he told a news briefing at Isaf headquarters.

"Since then, in this part of the world there has not been, to our knowledge, a suicide attack."

"So this does indicate, certainly, a change - one that we are all very cognisant of, and certainly one that we're going to watch closely."

For Isaf to be a success, members must improve their commitment to operations Richard Lugar Foreign Relations Committee

The explosion took place on Tuesday morning as the troops were leaving their base in the west of Afghanistan's capital Kabul for a patrol.

Security concerns

The bomb attack came on the day the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee met to discuss progress towards rebuilding Afghanistan.

Chairman Richard Lugar said that while there were "important successes" in education, health care and economic development, there was real concern about security.

Afghanistan - a rocky year ahead

If security is not achieved it will hinder rebuilding efforts and affect elections scheduled for June, he added.

Mr Lugar said it was vital that Isaf carried out its pledge to expand forces outside Kabul and called on alliance countries to provide more troops and resources.

"For Isaf to be considered a success, members of the alliance must improve their commitment to the operations," he told the committee.

According to AFP news agency, William Taylor, the State Department's coordinator for Afghanistan, admitted to the committee that the June election deadline might not be met.

"We are targeted for June," he is quoted as saying. "We are going through some very realistic planning, if that has to change sometime as of the next couple of months, the government of Afghanistan will take the decision."

The US had previously dismissed the United Nations' warning that there would be little chance of holding elections on time.

However, the Foreign Relations Committee was told that less than half a million voters have been registered so far, out of an estimated 10.5 million.