Roundup: 2 blasts kill 3, wound 8 in Afghanistan within day

Three people have been killed and eight others injured as two bomb blasts rocked the northern Kunduz and eastern Nangarhar provinces on Saturday, officials confirmed.

The latest blast occurred on Saturday afternoon in the eastern Nangarhar province with Jalalabad as its capital 120 km east of Kabul, leaving five people including two civilians injured, Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, spokesman for Nangarhar provincial government said.

"The blast occurred in Behsoud district at 01:00 p.m. (local time) today, injuring five people including three security personnel and two civilians," Abdulzai told reporters.

Without giving more details, Abdulzai added that investigation has been initiated into the case.

In a similar blast which hit Kunduz city, the capital of the northern Kunduz province 250 km north of the national capital Kabul, three people including a police had been killed and three others injured, Abdul Wasi Basil, spokesman of provincial government said.

"The blast took place at 11:50 a.m. (local time) against the car of the police chief of Chardara district in second precinct of Kunduz city, killing three persons including a police constable and injuring three others including two children," Basil told reporters.

Investigation has been initiated into the case, the official said, adding the culprits would be brought to justice.

The blasts happened when Afghans were going to celebrate Nawroz or New Year in Persian calendar, which falls on March 21 and is celebrated in Afghanistan, Iran and parts of central Asian countries.

Taliban militants who had banned Nawroz celebration as un- Islamic practice during their six-year rule which collapsed in late 2001, have reportedly vowed to intensify activities in spring when the weather gets warm in Afghanistan. Endi