Suicide Bomber Kills 2 in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- A suicide bomber on a motorcycle blew himself up next to a NATO convoy in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing two civilians. It was the third straight day troops there have been hit by suicide attacks.

No NATO troops were wounded in the explosion in Kandahar, but two civilians were killed, said Maj. Luke Knittig, a spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force.

Two Canadian soldiers were killed Monday when a suicide car bomber exploded next to their convoy just outside Kandahar. A suicide bomber also hit a NATO patrol in nearby Panjwayi district Tuesday, injuring one soldier.

Brig. Richard Nugee, chief of effects for NATO's International Security Assistance Force, said there was a slight increase in attacks in the last week, and that commanders believed insurgents were trying to make a statement during the NATO summit being held this week in Latvia.

Latest figures from ISAF show that 227 Afghans and 17 international soldiers have been killed in about 105 suicide bombings this year.

"Suicide attacks kill local people. They kill Afghans," Nugee said. "They are killing the people they want to support them."

Two NATO soldiers were killed when their patrol vehicle hit a roadside bomb Tuesday south of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul. Another soldier and an interpreter were wounded, NATO said. The soldiers' nationalities were not disclosed.

Separately, NATO forces in Kandahar's Panjwayi district opened fire Tuesday on a civilian vehicle that refused to stop "despite clear signals, including the use of verbal warnings and warning shots," ISAF said. One Afghan civilian was killed.

ISAF said it "deeply regrets" the loss of life. It was the fourth such incident in the past two weeks. The latest victim was the fifth to die from NATO gunfire on a civilian vehicle.