Seven Afghan government soldiers are dead, following an attack Saturday night by suspected militants loyal to the former Taleban regime.
An unknown number of militants, traveling in two cars, ambushed the vehicle carrying the government soldiers along a stretch of road in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province.
The soldiers were all bodyguards assigned to protect the province's governor, Sher Mohammad Akhundzada, and were traveling home on leave.
The governor's spokesman, Mohammed Wali, said the attackers were Taleban militants, waging a guerrilla war against the transitional government.
Helmand province has seen a rising number of attacks in recent weeks. This latest incident follows the murder of two Afghan aid workers in Helmand last week.