At least 11 civilians and two US soldiers have been killed in violence across southern Afghanistan as Taliban fighters step up attacks ahead of a planned operation by Nato forces in the south.
Nine of the civilian deaths occured when a roadside bomb struck a minibus in the city of Kandahar on Friday.
The vehicle struck the bomb on the main highway in Maywand district of Kandahar province after leaving neighbouring Helmand, Zalmai Ayobi, a provincial spokesman, told the AFP news agency.
"Deaths included women and children. Eight others were wounded," Ayobi said.
Five of the wounded were in critical condition and were airlifted by Nato forces to a military hospital. Three other injured were taken to a local Kandahar hospital, he said.
The Afghan interior ministry condemned Friday's "barbaric attack by the terrorists" on the Toyota mini bus, blaming the incident on "enemies of Afghanistan" - a term often used to refer to Taliban fighters.
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