3 police killed in W. Afghan blast

Three police personnel were killed in a bomb attack in western Afghanistan's province of Nimroz on Sunday, a district governor said.

"An improvised bomb struck a police mobile at around midday in Khashroad district, killing three police officers and injuring three policemen aboard the vehicle," Mohammad Hashim Noorzai told Xinhua.

The force of the explosion destroyed the police vehicle, he said.

The Afghan security forces' casualties have risen recently as they struggle against a surge in attacks by Taliban militant group and other anti-government fighters.

Earlier on Sunday, Aqa Noor Kentoz, police chief of neighboring Helmand province, and three policemen were wounded in a roadside bombing on outskirts of Lashkar Gah city, capital of restive Helmand province.

Sediq Sediqqi, Interior Ministry spokesman, confirmed the incident and twitted that Kentoz's wounds were not life-threatening.

Fierce fighting has been continuing between the Taliban and security forces in several districts of Helmand over the past couple of months as the hardliner outfit has been attempting to overrun Lashkar Gah to destabilize the neighboring Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan and Nimroz provinces. Endit