A bomb in eastern Afghanistan today killed six NATO service members, on a day where a total of 29 people died from roadside bombs and insurgent attacks. NATO said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device but provided no further details about the attack and did not identify the dead service members. The statement said NATO's policy is to allow "national authorities" to give details about the soldiers.
A surge in Afghan and coalition forces during the past two years routed Taliban fighters from many of their strongholds in the south, but the insurgents have stepped up their attacks this summer to take back key areas. The service members' deaths were the latest today caused by bombs planted by insurgents along roadsides, paths or mountain tracks. In addition to the six NATO deaths, bombs and attacks killed 16 Afghan civilians, five policemen, and two members of the US-led coalition in southern Afghanistan, Afghan and NATO authorities said. (More NATO stories.)
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