Kabul: Two NATO-led soldiers were killed and two others were wounded in an explosion in southern Afghanistan today, the alliance force said.

The latest casualties come three days after two British soldiers serving with NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) died in an explosion in the southern province of Kandahar.

"Two ISAF soldiers were killed and two were wounded during an explosion in southern Afghanistan early this morning," the alliance force said in a statement. It gave no further details.

ISAF did not reveal the names or nationalities of the victims, leaving that task to their homes countries, nor did it explain the exact location of the incident.

A total of 42 foreign soldiers have been killed so far this year in Afghanistan. Last year, 220 international soldiers helping Kabul tackle a Taliban-led insurgency lost their lives.

It was not immediately clear who might have been behind the explosion but similar acts have in the past been blamed on the Taliban militants.

More than 70 people including two dozen police and as many civilians have died in violence in the past three weeks.

The Taliban, who were in power between 1996 to 2001, are trying to topple the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai and oust tens of thousands of foreign soldiers based here to fight them back.

As part of their campaign the Islamic rebels have frequently used roadside and suicide bombings against the heavily-armed NATO-led soldiers.
Source : PTI