US bombs Red Cross compound for second time

The United States has bombed a Red Cross compound in the Afghan capital, Kabul, for the second time this month.

After another night of intense attacks, three huge bombs hit Kabul at midday today.

One of the bombs hit the Red Cross compound, which was used to store humanitarian supplies.

A security guard at the building said stocks of rice, beans, blankets and oil caught fire during the attack.

The US also bombed the same compound on October 16, injuring a security guard and destroying more of the much-needed supplies.

Abdul Rashid, a Red Cross worker, said: "This is the second time our warehouses have been hit. We had special programmes over the next several days to distribute these items to the disabled people."

This incident is likely to increase pressure on the US to halt its war on Afghanistan to allow humanitarian supplies to reach an estimated eight million people, who may die if they are not helped before winter.

Meanwhile, officials at the Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital in Kabul have confirmed that the US killed three children during late-night attacks yesterday.

Two of them, who were from the same family, were killed in the north-west of the city, while the other was killed in the east.

The United States has repeatedly insisted that it is not targeting civilians.