Woman in labour dies in Taliban attack | WPN World People News

A pregnant woman and four of her relatives were killed Monday when a roadside explosion ripped through the ambulance in which she was being taken to a maternity hospital.

According to an interior ministry statement, the explosion took place in the northern province of Sar-e-Pul when the ambulance hit an improvised explosive device buried underneath a road.

Two children were among the dead, the statement said.

"The woman (in labour) was being taken to hospital Along the road their vehicle struck a mine, planted by the Taliban, and she was killed. Three of her relatives travelling with her were also killed," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

The Taliban regularly use roadside bombs against Afghan and Nato forces.

The government strongly condemned the attack saying "targeting civilians is a clear sign of the weakness of insurgents".

"Such attacks can never weaken the spirit of cooperation between our people and security forces."

According to different media counts, civilian fatalities had dropped in the first four months of this year, but have risen again as warmer temperatures have ushered in more fighting between coalition forces and the Taliban and allied groups.

A total of 579 Afghan civilians were killed during the first four months of 2012, according to a United Nations report in May.

The UN says that the number of civilians killed over the last five years has risen steadily, reaching a record of 3,021 in 2011 - with the vast majority caused by insurgents.

Source: Southeast Asia News.Net