KANDAHAR, March 18: At least 16 people, including nine policemen and a former provincial governor, were killed in attacks across southern Afghanistan blamed on Taliban militants, officials said on Saturday. A bomb blast on Friday claimed the lives of nine policemen who were escorting the bodies of four Albanians kidnapped and killed by Taliban fighters in an area between Kandahar and Helmand.

Initial reports had said five policemen were killed in the attack in Maiwand district.

On Saturday, suspected Taliban rebels killed former Ghazni province governor Taj Mohammad and his four companions.

Also on Saturday, an attempt to kill Governor Sher Alam failed while three of the attackers were shot dead by his security personnel.

Taliban rebels also killed an Afghan soldier during an attack on a convoy of Afghan and US-led coalition troops, US military spokesman Lieutenant Mike Cody said on Saturday.—AFP