Suicide bombing injures 9 in E. Afghanistan

A suicide bombing wounded nine persons including six Afghan soldiers in the eastern Khost province of Afghanistan on Friday, a local police officer told Xinhua.

A suicide bomber attacked an Afghan military vehicle in Ismahinkhil district at around 10:00 a.m. (0530 GMT), injuring six soldiers and three civilians, said Mohammad Ayub, provincial police chief.

However, some media reports said one Afghan solider was killed and seven others were wounded.

The bomber, who was on foot, had strapped explosives on his body, Ayub said.

He said the attacker's identity was unknown yet, and no one has claimed responsibility.

Khost, a mountainous region, has been a hotbed of Taliban and other insurgents, who attack Afghan and NATO troops frequently.

Because of inferiority in military equipment and tactics, Taliban and other militants have frequently carried suicide bombings towards foreign and government targets.

Owing to rising Taliban-linked violence this year, Afghanistan has plunged into the worst spate of bloodshed since the Taliban regime was toppled down nearly five years ago.

Over 2,400 people, mostly Taliban militants, have been killed in this volatile country this year.

Source: Xinhua