Taliban suicide bombers launched simultaneous attacks on three government buildings in southwestern Afghanistan Monday, killing four people, including a government official, the Interior Ministry said. The Taliban have launched a series of attacks in the Afghan south in recent weeks, targeting government buildings and officials in an attempt to weaken the government and drive foreign forces out of the country. The latest attacks come only weeks ahead of a major military offensive in southern Kandahar province, being billed as the central objective of US and NATO commander General Stanley McChrystal's plan to turn the tide in the war. Wednesday's attacks, involving nine gunmen wearing suicide vests, took place in the town of Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province. Provincial police chief Abdul Jabar Pordeli said eight of the bombers detonated their explosives at three separate locations in the town - the governor's compound, the justice department and the court house. The ninth bomber was gunned down by security forces, he said. The Interior Ministry issued a statement after the attacks saying four people - a provincial council member, two policemen and one civilian - had been killed. Eight policemen and one civilian were also wounded, it said.
