At least 27 people, including civilians and security forces, have been killed in separate incidents in two provinces of Afghanistan, officials said yesterday. Six civilians were killed and as many others injured after a bomb they were carrying went off in southeastern Paktika province, said the head of the provincial council, Bakhtiar Gul Hemat.

The individuals had found the roadside bomb in Jani Khel district and were transporting it inside a car when the device exploded, Hemat said. Elsewhere, Taliban attacks in western Badghis province late on Sunday killed at least 21 security personnel.

At least 14 personnel, including two policemen and 12 soldiers, were killed when a military base was hit in Qadis district, head of the provincial council, Abdul Aziz Baig, told reporters.