US convoy, Afghan police hit by two suicide bombs

KABUL, May 5 (Reuters) A suicide bomber attacked a convoy of US-led troops in southeastern Afghanistan today and two Afghan police were killed in a similar attack, witnesses and police said.

US troops cordoned off the road where the convoy was attacked in Paktika province, which borders Pakistan, and it was unclear if there were any casualties, witnesses said.

A spokesman for the US military said he was not aware of an attack in the area.

The two police were killed when a suicide bomber rammed a car into their vehicle in the southern province of Helmand, police in the area said.

A car was also used in the attack in Paktika, part of a rising tide of violence in recent weeks after the traditional winter lull.

Taliban members were behind the two attacks and also of another one that targeted a convoy of Afghan army in neighbouring Paktia province, a spokesman for the group said.

An Afghan army officer in the region said he had heard of an attack on the convoy, but had no details.

REUTERS SG VV1435