Attackers target Afghan elections

MSF suspended operations after five workers were killed

Aid agencies and people preparing for September's elections have again been targeted in attacks in Afghanistan.

One policeman was killed by suspected Taleban fighters in Logar province, south of Kabul.

In other parts of the country, an Italian charity was attacked and a convoy of local and foreign election workers escaped an ambush.

The US military - which has been fighting rebels in the south and east - says militant activity is increasing.

The policeman died when gunmen attacked a government office in Logar province, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital - and area that is usually regarded as stable.

A local army commander said militants armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades drove into town in a pick-up truck and opened fire.

Further south, in Paktia province, a convoy of Afghan and foreign staff preparing for the elections was ambushed on Sunday.

They escaped unharmed, with support from the US-led coalition.

The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says that attack fitted in with threats from the Taleban movement to kill people involved in the electoral process.

Scared

In a third incident, grenades were thrown into the compound of an Italian development NGO Alisei in the north-western province of Badghis.

The area was also believed to be safe, until five employees of the NGO Medecins sans Frontieres were shot dead there last week.

A security source said 95% of aid workers based in Badghis had now left because of security concerns.

The US military has again acknowledged that there has been an increase in militant activity in southern and eastern Afghanistan over the past two months.

Its spokesman said clashes had also increased because the coalition was going on the offensive more.

At the weekend, he said, their forces pursued a group of militants into a series of caves which were then pounded by coalition aircraft.

There is no news of casualties.