Bomb blasts claim 20 in Afghanistan

A blast on a road leading to the Afghan capital, Kabul, has killed an Italian soldier and an Afghan child. Several other people were injured when a bomb was detonated by remote control. The apparent target was an international forces convoy passing along the road – three military vehicles were damaged.

The attack has been claimed by the Taliban who also say they were responsible for a suicide bombing in the Helmand Province in which 18 people were killed. It is thought the target this time was guards outside the governor’s residence in Lashkar Gah. The dead included three police officers and three Afghan soldiers.

The bloodshed comes the day after clashes between the Taliban and US-led forces near a southern base. Also yesterday, the Taliban claimed the shooting of the Director of Women’s Affairs in the southern province of Kandahar. Safia Ama Jan was killed by gunmen on a motorbike on her way to work.

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