Six civilians killed in Afghan blast

HERAT, Afghanistan, (AFP)

A roadside bomb tore through a car in western Afghanistan, killing six members of a family, an official said Saturday, blaming the attack on Taliban insurgents.

The incident in Herat province late Friday was the latest violence in a spiralling insurgency being waged by remnants of the Taliban.

"We suspect the bomb was planted by the Taliban to target security forces. It struck a civilian car and killed three women and three men," Naqibullah Arween, a spokesman for the local administration, told AFP.

The victims, who were members of same family, were heading off to Gozara district after visiting relatives in Herat city, he added.

Islamist rebels, mainly from the Taliban extremist group which was in power between 1996 and 2001, are waging an insurgency which has become increasingly violent in recent weeks, a critical time ahead of presidential elections.

Afghan security forces being helped by nearly 90,000 international troops have intensified efforts to push back the rebels from their strongholds mainly in southern and eastern Afghanistan to secure the polls scheduled for August 20.

Taliban rebels have also increased their activities, staging guerrilla-style attacks which mainly include roadside bombs and ambushes.