US soldier killed in Afghan blast

By Andew North BBC correspondent in Kabul

A US soldier serving in southern Afghanistan has been killed and at least nine wounded in what is believed to be a landmine explosion.

The incident, involving a soldier from the 10th mountain division, happened near the city of Ghazni about a 150km (94 miles) south-west of Kabul.

It is an area where US forces have often clashed with suspected Taliban members.

The blast follows a week of attacks across the south and east.

A US military official said the explosion happened as the soldier's convoy was travelling near Ghazni on Friday afternoon.

Initial indications are that it was a mine but it is not clear whether it was deliberately placed or not.

However it is a tactic insurgents have employed against US forces in the past and it is the second loss of life for US soldiers near Ghazni in just over two weeks.

Eight were killed in late January after a still unexplained explosion at a hidden ammunition store.

Series of attacks

This latest incident marks the end of another week of sporadic violence and attacks in Afghanistan.

On Wednesday British peacekeeping troops in Kabul defused a bomb on a road where a suicide attack killed a British soldier last month.

The same day an Afghan intelligence officer was killed in Khost, south-east of the capital.

On Friday, Khost was also hit by a barrage of at least 20 rockets - a frequent occurrence.

Rockets were also fired into Kabul on Thursday.

Many of these incidents cause no casualties but plenty of insecurity as Afghan and United Nations officials continue efforts to try to hold elections later this year.