Blast hits NATO convoy in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec 18 (Reuters) An explosion struck a NATO convoy in southern Afghanistan today, wounding two soldiers, witnesses and a NATO official said.

The blast occurred in a district of Kandahar province, a bastion of support for the Taliban when the group emerged in the 1990s and the focus of militant attacks since they were driven from power in 2001.

Initial reports indicated two NATO soldiers were wounded and one vehicle was damaged in the blast, an alliance spokesman said.

Police at the scene said the attack was carried out by a suicide car bomber. A Taliban commander, Mulla Hayat Khan, said the the insurgents carried out the attack.

In a separate incident in the province, the Taliban said they killed two men they accused of spying for NATO.

Taliban fighters detained the two today with documents that showed they spied for NATO, a Taliban fighter said by telephone. The two had their throats cut after a brief trial, the militant said.

Previous video released by the militants has shown them severing the heads of accused spies, some still alive and some apparently already dead.

Nearly 4,000 people have been killed in Afghan violence this year, the bloodiest period since the Taliban were overthrown. About 160 foreign troops have also been killed.

Reuters LL GC1847