Suicide bomber strikes Nato convoy

A suicide bomber has struck a Nato convoy near the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, the US military said, adding that there were casualties.

The Taleban took responsibility for the attack and a spokesman for the insurgents said the bombing killed 15 soldiers – a claim that appeared exaggerated, as many similar claims have been in the past.

Military spokesman Lt Damien E Horvath could not say how many casualties there were, or provide their nationalities.

The Nato mission, known as Resolute Support, “can confirm that a Nato convoy was attacked in Kandahar. The attack did cause casualties”, he said.

In their claim of responsibility, the Taleban also said the attack destroyed two armoured tanks.

The insurgents’ spokesman for southern Afghanistan, Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, said fighter Asadullah Kandahari was the “hero” who carried out the attack with a small pick-up truck, packed with explosives.

Kandahar province was the Taleban heartland.