Five US troops killed by roadside blast in Afghanistan

Five troops killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan are all American, a Nato official has confirmed.

The incident is the latest deadly attack against foreign troops since the Taliban announced the start of their spring offensive this week.

In a statement, Nato said the five were killed today.

Javeed Faisal, a spokesman for the governor of Kandahar province, said a coalition patrol hit the roadside bomb in Maiwand district of the province, the spiritual birthplace of the Taliban.

With the deaths, 47 members of the coalition have been killed so far this year.