(17 Jun 2007)
++SOUND QUALITY AS INCOMING++
1. Wide of opening ceremony of EUPOL (European Union Police Mission) in Kabul
2. Mid of EU's envoy to Afghanistan Francesc Vendrell (left) and Afghan Interior Minister Zara Ahmad Moqbil
3. Various of ceremony
4. Attendees clapping
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Francesc Vendrell, EU's envoy to Afghanistan:
"Today, we have witnessed another cowardly attack against the police forces of this country. And I think the fact that the police forces are the target and - not only today but in the past - attests to the importance of the police to their key role in ensuring the security of this country.
6. Close-up of arm badge reading EUPOL Afghanistan
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Francesc Vendrell, EU's envoy to Afghanistan:
"And it makes it all the more relevant that the European Union should be here today to launch their police project because this project is needed today more than ever. "
8. Wide of press conference
9. Journalist asking question
10. SOUNDBITE: (Dari) Zara Ahmad Moqbil, Afghan Interior minister:
"The suicide attacker attacked the bus transporting our officers when they were getting on the bus, but the investigation is still ongoing to know how it happened. And the foreigners who got wounded in this incident, their vehicle was close to the bus when the incident took place, but they were slightly wounded."
9. Mid of EUPOL instructors
10. Close of EUPOL instructors saluting
STORYLINE:
The EUPOL (EU Police Mission) took over police training in Kabul on Sunday, hours after a bomb ripped through police bus in Afghan capital, killing 35 people.
EU envoy to Afghanistan Francesc Vendrell and the Afghan interior minister Zara Ahmad Moqbil took part in the opening ceremony and condemned the deadly attack.
"Today, we have witnessed another cowardly attack against the police forces of this country. And I think the fact that the police forces are the target and - not only today but in the past - attests to the importance of the police to their key role in ensuring the security of this country," said Vendrell.
The EUPOL project was even more relevant following the bombing, he added.
Around 195 policemen from EU member countries, Canada and Norway are taking over the training of Afghan police.
The EUPOL Mission starts under German command, which is the biggest contingent as Germany is sending 60 policemen.
The head of Kabul's military hospital said at least 35 people, including 22 policemen, were killed in Sunday's bus bombing.
At least 35 others were wounded, hospital officials said.
Moqbil said an investigation into the attack was ongoing.
Qari Yousef Ahmadi, who claims to speak for the Taliban, said a suicide bomber named Mullah Asim Abdul Rahman caused the blast. His claim could not be verified.
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