Suicide raid on British convoy wounds three Afghans

KABUL, Oct 22 (Reuters) A suicide car bomber today targeted a British convoy in southern Afghanistan, wounding three Afghan civilians, a provincial official and the British military said.

There were no casualties among the troops, the official and military said.

The raid on the convoy, which is part of the large NATO-led force in Afghanistan, occurred in Girishk district, Helmand province, a long-time bastion for Taliban guerrillas and the main drugs producing region of Afghanistan.

Violence has increased sharply in southern Afghanistan over the past two years, with daily clashes between Taliban insurgents and Afghan and foreign forces.

During that period, more than 7,000 people have been killed in Afghanistan, the bloodiest period since the Taliban's radical Islamic government was toppled by US-led coalition forces in late 2001.

REUTERS SG RK1750