Blasts 'kill 12' in Afghanistan's Badghis province

At least 12 people have been killed by two roadside bombs in the north-western Afghan province of Badghis, police say.

The first blast hit a vehicle, killing 10 civilians. The second bomb exploded nearby shortly afterwards, killing two people in their vehicle, police said.

Unconfirmed reports say the second blast killed at least one policeman.

Meanwhile, five Nato soldiers were wounded in a double suicide bomb attack on the eastern town of Khost, a Nato spokeswoman said.

There were explosions and gunfire from the centre of town as Afghan police and soldiers, joined by troops from the Nato-led International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf), fought a small group of militants armed with guns and explosives.

Isaf spokeswoman Sgt Sabrina Foster said two suicide bombers detonated their explosives outside the Khost governor's palace, wounding five Isaf soldiers.

Several Afghan police officers were wounded.

Taliban insurgents have increasingly resorted to roadside improvised explosive devices in their attacks across the country, and conducting raids on the capital Kabul and other cities.

US, Nato and Afghan forces are currently engaged in a major anti-Taliban offensive in the southern province of Helmand.

Officials have signalled that the operation is likely to be expanded to surrounding areas.