Suicide bombers kill 22

CHARIKAR, Afghanistan (AP) - Six suicide bombers attacked a governor's security meeting in one of Afghanistan's most secure provinces, killing 22 people and driving home the point that the Taliban is able to strike at will virtually anywhere in the country.

The governor of Parwan, a relatively peaceful eastern province just 30 miles north of Kabul, survived. He said he picked up an assault rifle and shot at least one of the attackers dead from the waiting room of his office.

Two other insurgents detonated their vests, causing most of the deaths and burning part of the governor's offices. Several cars were wrecked by shrapnel and bullets. Broken glass and body parts littered a charred lawn.

The bold daylight assault in Charikar follows a similar attack by suicide bombers at a major Kabul hotel in June, and the downing of a U.S. helicopter full of U.S. special operations troops only 35 miles away from Kabul. The attacks in and close to the capital raise more questions about Afghanistan's ability to defend itself as the U.S.-led coalition hands more of the country over to its struggling forces.

All the attackers wore suicide vests, and at least three of them were dressed as police officers, police said.