Afghan Roadside Bomb Kills 25 Bus Passengers

VOA News
July 28, 2010 at 8:42 pm

A crowded bus struck a roadside bomb in southwestern Afghanistan Wednesday, killing at least 25 civilians and wounding more than 20 others.

Local officials say the bomb exploded on a stretch of highway in the Delaram area of Nimroz province as the bus was traveling toward Kabul.

Provincial governor Ghulam Dastgir Azad said he believes insurgents were behind the blast. But a Taliban spokesman denied any involvement in the attack.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the bombing.

A roadside bomb also killed two Italian bomb disposal experts in western Herat province Wednesday. Italy’s Defense Ministry said the two were killed moments after successfully dismantling another such improvised explosive device.

In other violence, NATO said two Afghan civilians were killed in the south 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. Some information in this story was provided by AP and AFP.  Non-automotive content removed.