Two Italian peacekeepers were killed and four wounded in a roadside bomb near the Afghan capital Kabul today.
The blast hit a two-vehicle Italian convoy about 12 miles south of Kabul, on the main road to Logar province. The
"The four wounded have been successfully evacuated," said Major Luke Knittig, adding local police and NATO troops were at the scene."
Taliban insurgents have intensified their campaign against foreign troops and the government in recent months with a wave of bombings, attacks and assassinations.
Violence in parts of Afghanistan is the worst it has been since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.
Including the two Italians killed today, 20 foreign soldiers have died in Afghan violence this year.
Italy has some 1,775 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. Italy handed over command of the force to Britain yesterday.
A Taliban spokesman, Mohammad Hanif, said by telephone from an undisclosed location that Taliban suicide bombers would increase attacks on British troops in the southern Helmand province, and would "turn the ground red" with their blood.