3 civilians killed in suicide bombing on Afghan army base

Three civilians were killed and four Afghan soldiers were wounded today when a suicide car bomb exploded in front of an army base in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

Three civilians were killed and four Afghan soldiers were wounded today when a suicide car bomb exploded in front of an army base in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

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The blast occurred in Shahjoy district of Zabul province, provincial vice governor Gulab Shah Alikhil told AFP.

"The driver of a vehicle blew himself up in front of the (Afghan army) base, killing three civilians who were employees queueing to enter. Four soldiers were also wounded in the explosion," he said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but it had the markings of a number of other bombings by the Taliban insurgency in the province.

Attacks regularly target Afghan and international forces, civilians are often the victims.

Afghanistan's fight against insurgents from the Taliban -- a hardline Islamic group that was in government between 1996 and 2001 -- has grown more intense in recent years with attacks increasing.

There are nearly 70,000 international soldiers in the country helping Afghan forces fight the rebels.