A suicide bomber rammed a car into the gate of a foreign military base in the southeast Afghan province of Khost on Monday, killing nine Afghan civilians and wounded 13, the provincial governor said.
Two more suicide bombers were shot dead by police before they were able to detonate explosives in another car as police dealt with casualties from the initial attack, Khost's governor, Arsala Jamal, told Reuters.
"The victims were all poor labourers and civilians. This was a barbaric act carried out by the enemies of Afghanistan at a time of celebration of independence," he said referring the anniversary on Monday of Afghan independence.
Violence has surged in Afghanistan this year as the Taliban step up their campaign of guerrilla attacks, backed by roadside and suicide bombs to oust the pro-Western Afghan government and drive out foreign troops.
(Writing by Sayed Salahuddin; Editing by Robert Birsel)
