国际英语新闻：Taliban birthplace in S. Afghanistan experiences day of terror

KABUL, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Taliban's birthplace of Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan experienced a horrible day on Monday, as two violent incidents claimed the lives of four civilians, while over two dozen others sustained injuries.

In the first incident carried out by NATO-led troops in the morning rush hour, four non-combatants including a woman were killed and 18 others sustained injuries as NATO-led forces opened fire on a passenger bus in Zhari district.

The gruesome incident triggered demonstration and prompted some 300 locals to block the road and call for the arrest and punishment of those responsible for the mishap.

NATO-led troops expressed regret in a statement, saying the ill- fated bus failed to heed to the warning of the soldiers and continued approaching the military convoy.

NATO-led forces have, as a precautionary measure, asked motorists not to get closer to military convoys.

Hours later, three suicide bombers targeted the department of intelligence service of the National Security Directorate (NSD). Nine people including four employees of NSD and five civilians all members of a family were injured in the incident.

Officials in Kandahar blamed the dreadful attack on the enemies of peace, a term used against Taliban militants, but the outfit has yet to make comment.