Bomb attacks kill 18 Afghan civilians

Bombings have killed at least 18 civilians and wounded several others across Afghanistan as the security situation continues to deteriorate in the war-ravaged country.

Nine people including six children were killed in an explosion in the northern Baghlan Province.

Elsewhere, six people died in a bomb attack in the southern Helmand Province. Three others were killed by an explosion in Oruzgan.

The Afghan interior ministry says 2010 was the deadliest year for civilians since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001.

The ministry’s spokesman said in early January that more than 2,000 civilians lost their lives in violence across Afghanistan.

Afghans blame foreign troops and their military operations for civilian deaths. The rising number of civilian casualties has increased anti-US sentiments in the troubled region.

The surge in violence comes despite the presence of 150,000 foreign troops engaged in the so-called war on terrorism.