30 killed in suicide attack at Kabul mosque

KABUL • A suicide bomber killed at least 30 people inside a Shi'ite mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul yesterday night, the latest in a string of violent attacks on the country's Shi'ite minority.

The attack occurred at Imam Zaman mosque in the western Dasht-e-Barchi part of Kabul, as Shi'ite worshippers gathered for prayers.

A senior security official said the exact number of casualties was unknown, but that security forces at the scene had removed at least 30 bodies.

Afghanistan's Shi'ite population has been heavily hit this year, with at least 84 people killed and 194 wounded in attacks on their mosques and religious ceremonies, according to a United Nations report released last week.

REUTERS

Eng Hen in Philippines for Asean meetings

Singapore's Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen will be in Clark in the Philippines from tomorrow till next Tuesday to attend the 11th Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and other associated events, the Ministry of Defence has said.

During the three-day trip, Dr Ng will participate in the ADMM chairmanship handover ceremony where Singapore will officially take over as the ADMM and ADMM-Plus chair from the Philippines.

He will also attend the 4th ADMM-Plus, a forum for the defence ministers and militaries of all 10 Asean countries and eight key partners, including Australia and China.