Bomb in Afghanistan kills 5, including 2 officials

Kabul - Five people including a district mayor and a member of the provincial peace council were killed in a bomb blast in northern Afghanistan, an Afghan official said

A spokesman for Takhar province said a remote-controlled roadside bomb exploded on Monday morning. Provincial peace councilor Mohammad Hashim and Abdul Aziz, the mayor of Ishkamesh district were on their way to the provincial capital of Talagan when the bomb detonated as their vehicle passed. Three other people were also killed in the explosion.

Spokesman Faiz Mohammad Tawhedi said insurgent gunmen also attacked the convoy of the same district’s police chief and chief administrator, sparking a battle on the road. He said two Taliban gunmen were killed in the fighting and another was captured. Both officials escaped harm.