2 Britons dead in Kabul attack

Two British contractors were among 13 members of the Nato-led force killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan on Saturday, the Foreign Office has said. A Taliban suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into a bus carrying members of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul. Five Isaf members and eight Isaf civilian employees were killed. It was the deadliest attack on foreign forces since the Taliban killed 30 US forces in August. The Foreign Office said the next of kin of the Britons had been informed. "Our thoughts are with the families of all who died: Isaf personnel and contractors; Afghan forces and civilians. "Consular staff in Kabul are in close touch with the employer of the deceased. We stand ready to provide any consular assistance needed to their families." The Pentagon had initially said all the Isaf personnel were American, but Canada then confirmed that one was Canadian. Three Afghan civilians and a police officer were also killed. The attack happened near Darulaman Palace, the bombed-out seat of Afghanistan's former kings on the south-west outskirts of the capital. The suicide attacker driving a red Toyota Corolla detonated the bomb just as the bus was passing at 11:20 (06:50 GMT on Saturday). The armoured bus was blown over by the force of the explosion. There has been an increase in militant attacks across Afghanistan in recent months, despite the presence of more than 130,000 foreign troops.