By Xinhua
Kabul : Two separate roadside bomb explosions apparently carried out by militants in south Afghanistan killed eight people – five civilians and three policemen, officials said Tuesday.
Three policemen were killed and two were injured in the first blast in Kandahar province Monday night, while the second blast in neighbouring Helmand province almost at the same time left five civilians dead, the police said.
“A mine planted by Taliban insurgents and exploded by remote-control Monday night in south of Kandahar city, capital of Kandahar province, left three policemen dead and two others injured,” said Syed Aqa Saqib, police chief of Kandahar.
“Five civilians, including a woman and two children, were killed when a mine planted by militants struck their car in Gereshk district Monday night,” said Mohammad Hussain Andiwal, provincial police chief of Helmand province.
Taliban purported spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi has also claimed responsibility for attacking police in Kandahar but has yet to make comment on targeting the civilian car.
At least 6,000 people have lost their lives in conflicts and Taliban-related violence in 2007. Observers predicted more violence particularly suicide attacks and roadside bombings this year too.