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Rocket Kills At Least 20 At Afghan Wedding Party


File photo of a Taliban attack in Helmand.
File photo of a Taliban attack in Helmand.

A rocket fired amid fighting between Taliban insurgents and Afghan soldiers has killed at least 20 people at a wedding party in Afghanistan's southern Helmand Province.

Police spokesman Fareed Ahmad Obaid said the missile also wounded at least 45 people.

The rocket struck a house in the Sangin district, a Taliban stronghold, on December 31 as Afghan security forces have battled insurgents since U.S. forces withdrew from the area some six months ago.

Many of those killed by the rocket are said to be women and children.

Afghanistan's 350,000-member-strong security forces take over security in the country on January 1 after 13 years in which NATO-led forces had the lead role.

2014 was the deadliest of the war for government forces and civilians, with around 5,000 Afghan soldiers and police killed, and some 10,000 civilians being killed or wounded.

Based on reporting by AP, dpa, and AFP
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