Taleban kills eight guards on way to US Afghan base

Taleban gunmen opened fire on Afghan security guards on their way to working at the main US base in the country, killing at least eight guards, officials said yesterday.

The attack took place late on Monday night and left two other guards wounded, according to Wahida Shahkar, spokeswoman for the Parwan governor.

The guards were attacked while they were on their way to work at Bagram airfield, the main US military base in Afghanistan.

Ms Shahkar said the shooting is being investigated further.

A Taleban spokesman claimed responsibility for the shooting.

Elsewhere, four policemen were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb around in southern Helmand province, a Taleban heartland. The attack took place on the main Helmand-kandahar highway,