The Afghan election results followed soon after deadly attacks on civilians and troops in the Taliban stronghold of southern Afghanistan.

In Kandahar a car bomb killed at least 30 civilians as they gathered for a communal meal to end their daily Ramadan fast. Earlier in the day, four American servicemen died in a roadside bomb blast. Those military casualties make this the deadliest year for foreign troops in the country since they started arriving in 2001. So far this year, 295 NATO and coalition soldiers have lost their lives in the conflict, one more than the whole of 2008, previously the worst year for foreign casualties. The United States has lost more than 800 troops to the Taliban, Britain more than 200. Troops from Canada, France, Germany, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy have also suffered heavily. Surveys of the public in all countries participating to the mission in Afghanistan suggest those opposing it are in a majority.More about: Afghanistan

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