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Seven die in Afghanistan attack Seven die in Afghanistan attack
(about 3 hours later)
Seven people have been killed after a roadside bomb exploded near a van carrying civilians in eastern Afghanistan, officials said.Seven people have been killed after a roadside bomb exploded near a van carrying civilians in eastern Afghanistan, officials said.
Nine others were wounded in the incident which happened in Sabari district in Khost province, the officials added. Nine others were wounded in the attack - blamed on the Taleban - which happened in Sabari district of Khost province, officials said.
Khost is a restive province with frequent clashes between US-led coalition forces and the Taleban. Khost is a restive province with frequent clashes between the US-led coalition forces and the Taleban.
Last month, two Nato soldiers were killed in a bomb attack in Khost.Last month, two Nato soldiers were killed in a bomb attack in Khost.
Interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary told AFP news agency that an "improvised explosive device planted by the enemies of the people of Afghanistan that hit the vehicle". Roadside attacks
Interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary told AFP news agency that an it was an "improvised explosive device planted by the enemies of the people of Afghanistan that hit the vehicle".
"As a result seven civilians, including a woman, were killed and nine other civilians wounded" in the attack, he said."As a result seven civilians, including a woman, were killed and nine other civilians wounded" in the attack, he said.
The local police said that the van carrying the civilians was travelling on a road also used by foreign and Afghan troops.The local police said that the van carrying the civilians was travelling on a road also used by foreign and Afghan troops.
The police blamed Taleban militants for planting the bomb. Roadside bombs are common in southern Afghanistan
There are about 70,000 foreign troops fighting the Taleban in the country. The Taleban regularly use roadside bombs in their attacks against Afghan and foreign forces, but correspondents say that the majority of the victims in such attacks are civilians.
The Taleban have been steadily increasing their attacks over the past three years. The number of such incidents rose by 30% in 2008, according to Nato.
The new US administration of Barack Obama has vowed to make Afghanistan a priority and has pledged tens of thousands more US troops. Sabari district in particular is renowned for militant activity and clashes between the coalition troops and insurgents.
There have also been a number of suicide attacks in the Khost area in recent months, most of them claimed by the Taleban. Meanwhile, in the southern province of Uruzgan, a blast wounded three Australian soldiers and their interpreter, Australia's defence ministry said.
It said that the Australians were attacked by the Taleban while patrolling with Afghan soldiers.
Southern Afghanistan is the centre of the Taliban-led insurgency, and the majority of the 17,000 extra troops pledged by the US President Barack Obama to quell the insurgency will be based there.
The Taleban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until being removed from power in the US invasion of late 2001.
There are currently about 70,000 foreign troops fighting the Taleban who, over the last three years, have steadily increased their attacks.
President Obama has vowed to make Afghanistan a foreign policy priority.