Bomb explosion in Afghanistan: 2 killed, 2 wounded

A bomb exploded on a mountainous road in eastern Afghanistan, killing one U.S. service member and an Afghan employed by the military as well as wounding two American troops, the military said Thursday. The attack occurred as they were driving in an armored vehicle in Kunar province near the regional capital Asadabad on Wednesday, Sgt. Maj. Larry Lane, a military spokesman, said.

The two wounded were evacuated to a base in Asadabad, where one was treated and released, he said. Lane initially said only one person had been killed in the attack, but a statement issued Thursday said an Afghan employed by the military was also killed. It gave no other details.

Provincial Gov. Assadullah Wafa said the bomb had been detonated by remote control. He blamed "enemies of Afghanistan" for the attack, a term commonly used to refer to Taliban rebels. Kunar is a mountainous province on the border with Pakistan and scores of militants are believed to hide out there.

Some of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces this year have occurred in Kunar. In June, suspected Taliban rebels shot down a special forces helicopter, resulting in the deaths of 16 troops, after killing four American commandos on the ground.

Meanwhile, another U.S. soldier was killed and four others hurt when their armored vehicle rolled over in the country's south Wednesday, the military said.

The troops were conducting a combat operation near Kandahar city, a former Taliban stronghold, when the accident occurred, a U.S. military statement said, reports the AP. I.L.