Accessibility links

Breaking News

Roadside Bomb Kills 17 in Afghanistan


Calon presiden dari Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan, Gubernur Jakarta Joko Widodo alias Jokowi, berbicara pada para pendukung dalam kampanye terbuka Minggu (16/3) di Lapangan Gelanggang Olah Raga Cendrawasih, Cengkareng, Jakarta Barat. (VOA/Andylala Waluyo)
Calon presiden dari Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan, Gubernur Jakarta Joko Widodo alias Jokowi, berbicara pada para pendukung dalam kampanye terbuka Minggu (16/3) di Lapangan Gelanggang Olah Raga Cendrawasih, Cengkareng, Jakarta Barat. (VOA/Andylala Waluyo)
A roadside bomb has ripped through a vehicle in western Afghanistan, killing 17 civilians who were part of a wedding celebration.

Afghan officials say Friday's blast occurred on a road in relatively peaceful Farah province. Most of the victims were women and children. At least 10 people were wounded in the attack.

Authorities blamed Taliban militants.

NATO strongly condemned "this latest brutal attack against innocent civilians." A coalition spokesman said "the insurgents' claim to avoid killing civilians again rings hollow as they continue their ruthless IED (improvised explosive devices) campaign."

The coalition says insurgents have caused more than 2,800 civilian deaths and injuries so far this year, the majority caused by IEDs.

Separately, NATO said two of its service members were killed in a roadside bombing Friday in eastern Afghanistan.

Earlier this year, a United Nations report said improvised explosive devices used by insurgents are the top cause of deaths among Afghan women and children. The U.N. has demanded that insurgents immediately stop the deliberate killing of civilians.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
XS
SM
MD
LG