Bomb kills 7 civilians in eastern Afghanistan

25/03/2009| IslamWeb

A roadside bomb ripped through a van carrying civilians in eastern Afghanistan, killing seven people and wounding nine others Wednesday, while three Australian soldiers were wounded in another blast in the south, officials said.

The attacks are a reminder of the dangers facing Afghan and foreign troops as thousands of new U.S. troops roll into the country to try to reverse the Taliban gains of the last three years.

They also came a few days before President Barack Obama unveils his plan to tackle the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan.

The explosion that killed the civilians happened in Sabari district of the eastern Khost province while the van was on a road also used by foreign and Afghan troops, said Police Chief Abdul Qajum Bakizoy. He blamed Taliban fighters for planting the bomb.

Sabari district is known for clashes between U.S. coalition troops and fighters.

In the southern Uruzgan province, a blast wounded three Australian soldiers and their interpreter, Austrialia's Defense Department said in a statement Wednesday.

The Australians were attacked by the Taliban while patrolling alongside Afghan soldiers, the statement said.

"The wounded soldiers and interpreter were given combat first aid by the patrol and moved by helicopter to the Dutch hospital at Tarin Kowt, when the tactical situation allowed," the statement said.

PHOTO CAPTION

File photo shows Afghan policemen at the site of a suicide attack in eastern Afghanistan last Saturday.

Agencies