Afghan official: Blast kills 20 civilians

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan official says an explosion has killed 20 civilians in Kandahar, the largest city in the country's south.

Javid Faisal, a spokesman for Kandahar province, says at least 22 others were wounded in Wednesday's blast, which occurred in a market area several kilometers from Kandahar Air Field. The massive military installation is used by the U.S.-led coalition.

The spokesman says the explosives were placed in a vehicle in an area where shopkeepers sell logistical supplies for the military base.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan police say two civilians have been killed in a nighttime raid by NATO troops against militants holed up in a village in eastern Afghanistan.

A NATO forces spokesman says no civilians were killed in Wednesday's pre-dawn operation in Logar province's Baraki Barak district.

Maj. Martyn Crighton says the force included both international and Afghan troops. The troops came under fire while trying to capture a local Taliban leader and called in an airstrike. He says two women were wounded and were taken to a military base for treatment.

Hower, Logar provincial police chief Gen. Ghulam Sakhi Roogh Lawanay says the operation killed 12 militants, including the district Taliban commander.

He says that two civilians — a woman and a child — were also among the dead.