Roadside bombing kills 6 Afghan army soldiers in eastern Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Officials say two roadside bomb attacks have killed six Afghan soldiers and three civilians in the eastern part of the country.

Afghan army spokesman Noman Atefi said Tuesday that a blast occurred a day earlier in Alasay district of Kapisa Province as an army unit was returning from an operation.

He said the blast completely destroyed an army vehicle. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Separately, Azad Khan — district chief in eastern Afghanistan's Paktia Province — said a roadside bomb there killed three civilians and wounded seven others Tuesday.

Bombs in vehicles, along roadsides and carried by suicide bombers are the Taliban's weapons of choice.

The Taliban have escalated attacks in recent months as they try to take advantage of the withdrawal of foreign troops.