Two German journalists killed in Afghan ambush

KABUL, Oct 7 (Reuters) Gunmen ambushed and killed two German journalists travelling in northern Afghanistan today, Afghan officials said.

Police said the two, a man and woman, ambushed while travelling at night from Baghlan province to the central province of Bamiyan.

''Unidentified insurgents sprayed their vehicle with bullets,'' said General Azim Hashimi, security chief in Baghlan province, about 120 km (80 miles) north of Kabul.

The two, who police said were working on a documentary, had a driver but Hashimi said there was no word on him. Documents indicated they worked for Deutsche Welle, he said.

Violence has surged across Afghanistan this year, mostly in the south and east where Taliban insurgents have been battling foreign and government troops.

Attacks have also taken place in Kabul, the west and the north but both Baghlan and Bamiyan provinces have been quiet recently.

Crime has surged across Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban.

A Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousuf, said the Taliban was not responsible for the attack.

''We don't kill all foreigners, only those helping foreign forces,'' he said by telephone from an undisclosed location.

The Germans' bodies were taken to Kabul later today, police said.

Germany has a contingent of about 2,750 troops with NATO's Afghan mission.

REUTERS DKB KN2310