Five police were killed as a roadside bomb struck their van in Zabul province south of Afghanistan early Wednesday, a senior police commander Abdul Razaq said.

"The gruesome incident occurred in Shamonzai district early today as a result five constables of Border Police Force were martyred," Razaq told Xinhua.

Meantime, Qari Yusuf Ahmadi who claims to speak for Taliban insurgents in talks with media via cellular phone from undisclosed location claimed responsibility and said six policemen were killed in the incident.

Taliban insurgents have intensified their activities as in the latest wave of violent attack they carried out a suicide car bomb in the capital city Kabul on Tuesday, wounding six civilians, according to officials.

Source