Double Suicide Bombing Attacks In Afghanistan Kill Two U.S. Soldiers, 10 Civilians

November 19, 2009 1:58 p.m. EST

Kabul, Afghanistan (AHN) - Two separate suicide bombing attacks targeted a NATO-led military base and a police station in southern Afghanistan on Thursday. In the wake of the carnage two U.S. soldiers and 10 Afghan civilians were killed.

The attacks coincided with President Hamid Karzai reaffirming that Afghan security forces should be able to take over the country's security from international troops in five years.

The first bombing occurred about an hour after Karzai was sworn-in for a second term. According to reports the bomber detonated his vehicle which contained numerous explosives at a U.S. military base in Shahjoy located in the southern province of Zabul. Officials reveal two U.S. Military service members perished in the attack.

Shortly after the bombing the on a website the Taliban uses to post statements, they claimed responsibility for the attack. Furthermore thy said 22 NATO soldiers were killed by their bomber.

In the second Thursday attack Afghan police determined a suspect as a bomber and shot the suspect several times. However he was still able to set off his device killing two children and eight adult civilians. 13 others were injured in the explosion took place in Oruzgan Province in southern Afghanistan. Officials believe the bomber's target was a convoy of police that were headed to military training exercises.

Thursday's attack has raised the number of U.S. Troops killed in Afghanistan since January this year to 292 and to over 470 foreign soldiers slain. Currently there are over 100,000 international troops in the country.