Afghan protesters denounce bombings, Pakistan

[ECH1969]

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Hundreds of Afghans staged a protest on Saturday to denounce a wave of suicide bomb attacks, with many of the protesters blaming neighboring Pakistan for the violence.

"We condemn these suicide attacks," protesters shouted outside the provincial governor's offices in the city of Ghazni, 140 km (90 miles) south of the capital, Kabul.

There have been 13 suicide blasts since November, the worst last Monday when 23 people were killed in the town of Spin Boldak, on the border with Pakistan.

Many ordinary Afghans blame Pakistan, which backed the Taliban before the September 11 attacks on the United States, for the violence. "Death to Pakistan, death to ISI," the protesters shouted on Saturday, referring to Pakistan's main Inter-Services Intelligence agency.

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