Blast kills Afghan bus passengers

Blast kills Afghan bus passengers

Eight Afghan civilians have been killed after a roadside bomb hit their minibus in an eastern province.

The explosion occurred in the area of Paktia late on Sunday, killing women and children who were travelling on the bus, witnesses said.
Police sources told Al Jazeera that eight people were killed in the blast and 14 others wounded. Survivors were taken to the provincial hospital for treatment.
The deaths come hours after Afghanistan's interior ministry said that civilian deaths were on the rise in the country.
New figures showed that there were 173 civilian deaths between March 21 and April 21, a 33 per cent increase on the same period in 2009.
The statistics did not record who was responsible for the deaths.
Deaths caused by foreign troops in Afghanistan have caused widespread anger in the country. The US revised its rules on using air attacks and other weaponry last year after facing criticism for killing civilians during operations against the Taliban.
Last week, the French military admitted responsibility for the deaths of four civilians who were killed during a clash with Taliban fighters on April 6.
The attack was followed by a controversial incident on April 20 in which Nato troops fired on a vehicle that approached their convoy, killing four civilians.
PHOTO CAPTION
A US soldier takes position during a gun battle with Taliban fighters in Gardez, capital of eastern Paktia province, in 2009.
Agencies 

Related Articles

Prayer Times

Prayer times for Doha, Qatar Other?
  • Fajr
    04:58 AM
  • Dhuhr
    11:46 AM
  • Asr
    02:52 PM
  • Maghrib
    05:14 PM
  • Isha
    06:44 PM