US Afghan Toll Mounts; 2009 Deadliest for Foreign Troops

A busy, bloody day in Afghanistan:

• Five car bombs detonated simultaneously in Kandahar, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 50, reports the AP.
• That follows news of a blast in southern Afghanistan that killed four US troops, bringing to 41 the number of American deaths in August. That's the second highest monthly total (behind last month's 44) since the US invasion in 2001.

• The deaths also bring to 295 the number of foreign deaths for the year, already surpassing last year's record of 294, notes Reuters.
• In the first official election results, President Karzai and challenger Abdullah Abdullah each have about 40% of the vote with 10% of returns counted. If neither gets 50%, a runoff looms.

(More Afghanistan stories.)