Suspected Taliban torch school in southern Afghanistan

Feb 7, 2011, 12:41 GMT

Kabul - Suspected Taliban militants torched a school in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, the latest incident in a series of attacks against the country's education system that the insurgents deem un-Islamic, an official said Monday.

The school that teaches around 500 boys in Nawa district was on fire Sunday night after militants detonated explosives inside the building, Daoud Ahmadi, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said.

No one was hurt in the attack, but half of the building was destroyed by blast, he said. Ahmadi blamed the Taliban for the attack.

Taliban spokesmen were not available for comment.

The militants have been behind numerous attacks on schools and educational personnel since thir ouster in late 2001.

The have also threatened students and teachers, warning of dire consequences if they go to school, which they said teach un-Islamic subjects.

At least 20 schools were bombed or burned down between March and October last year. A total of 126 teachers and students were killed in the same period.

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