Preelection Violence Kills 10 in Afghanistan

Ten people were killed in fighting across Afghanistan ahead of legislative elections set for Sunday, officials said Thursday.

“The enemy is making efforts to threaten people, but they don’t have the ability to stop the elections,” Interior Minister Ali Jalali said.

He said 55,000 police officers, 28,000 soldiers and about 20,000 militiamen and intelligence agents had fanned out across the nation to safeguard voters. About 20,000 U.S.-led troops and an 11,000-strong force from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are also on alert.

Taliban insurgents have stepped up attacks and vowed to disrupt the vote, which is seen as a major step toward democracy and stability in Afghanistan. Fighting has claimed more than 1,200 lives in the last six months.

In the latest violence, about 40 gunmen attacked a police post in Oruzgan province late Wednesday, Gov. Jan Mohammed Khan said. Police killed three attackers and arrested one, he said. The others escaped.

Also Wednesday, a U.S. service member was hurt in a roadside bombing in Kandahar province. Four assailants were killed in the ensuing firefight.

Near Tirin Kot, a bomb killed three passengers in a civilian vehicle Wednesday, Khan said.