Afghan Bus Hits Roadside Bomb, Killing 25 Civilians

VOA News
27 July 2010

Afghan officials say a crowded bus has struck a roadside bomb in southwestern Afghanistan, killing at least 25 civilians.

The bomb exploded Wednesday on a stretch of highway in the Delaram area of Nimroz province as the bus was traveling toward Kabul. More than 20 people were wounded.

Provincial governor Ghulam Dastgir Azad told reporters he believes insurgent forces were behind the blast. A Taliban spokesman denied any involvement in the attack.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the bombing.

A roadside bomb also killed two Italian soldiers in western Herat province on Wednesday.

In southern Afghanistan, NATO says two Afghan civilians were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb.

Colonel Rafael Torres of the ISAF Joint Command denounced what he called the "cowardly, murderous attacks" and said insurgents will not prevent the coalition from securing Afghanistan.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, NATO said an unmanned aerial vehicle went down in Kunduz province. Authorities say the vehicle contained no weapons or intelligence that could be exploited by insurgents.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.