LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 Afghan soldiers and policemen were killed in two separate explosions in the country's southern province of Helmand, provincial sources said on Monday.
In one incident, eight Afghan National Army soldiers and an assailant were killed when a terrorist attacked an army checkpoint in Nad Ali district on Monday morning.
"One terrorist rammed an explosive-laden car into a security forces' checkpoint in Toor Pul locality of Nad Ali district on Monday morning," a provincial source told Xinhua.
The official who declined to be named noted that the bomber was killed on the spot and two army personnel went missing following the blast.
The Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
On Sunday afternoon, five policemen were killed and five others wounded in an accidental explosion outside a police checkpoint along a dusty road in Sangin district, in the eastern side of Helmand, provincial governor Gen. Mohammad Yasin told Xinhua.
He said an investigation into the incident is still underway and the blast could be caused by human error.
