Four die in Afghan bomb blast

A remote-controlled bomb exploded as a police patrol passed by on a road in southeastern Afghanistan today.

Four officers were killed and two others injured, including a district police chief, a military official said.

Khial Baz, commander of the Khost Division, said the incident occurred about ten miles west of Khost city.

He blamed Taliban holdouts or their al-Qaida allies.

Nasur Allah, chief of police for the Ismail-Khil district, was wounded, but his injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

On Wednesday, five mortars landed around the vehicle of the commander of Khost’s Yaqubi district, injuring three soldiers.