Kandahar suicide plot foiled

Security is tight around the governor's compound in Kandahar following an attempted suicide attack.

Afghan security forces shot dead two suspected suicide bombers after they entered the provincial governor's compound in the southern city.

The governor said the police recognised the threat, and a gun battle broke out.

(SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) KANDAHAR GOVERNOR, TOORYALAI WESA, SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE, SAYING:

"Today at 11 a.m. the enemies of Afghanistan and its people wanted to enter my office with explosives placed in their shoes. Fortunately our police recognised and killed the two insurgents. As a result of the gun battle two of our police officers were killed and one was wounded."

Despite the presence of more than 100,000 foreign troops, violence across Afghanistan remains at its worst levels since the Taliban were toppled in late 2001, according to the United Nations.

Nick Rowlands, Reuters.