Roadside blasts kill 9 south Afghanistan

At least nine civilians, including women and children, were killed in two incidents when their vehicles hit roadside bombs in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, said officials on Sunday. The governor's spokesman, Omar Zwak in a statement confirming the incident, said that an explosion took place in an area between Musa Qala and Nawzad districts killing seven people including three women and two children. He further said in press remarks that four women and as many men were among those injured and all the victims belonged to the same family. In another incident, two Breshna Sherkat (power utility) employees were killed in a blast in the Kajaki district, said police. The Kajaki district police spokesman Col. Abdul Ahad Chopan confirmed the incident. The company's director for Helmand, Eng. Faizullah also confirmed the number of deaths. The security situation in Afghanistan has worsened after local Afghan forces took control of the overall security of the country as NATO/ISAF forces prepare to leave by end of the year.