30 killed when Afghan bus hits roadside bomb

Source Los Angeles Times

A crowded Afghan passenger bus struck a roadside bomb Tuesday in the violent southern province of Kandahar, killing 30 people and injuring more than three dozen others, Afghan officials said. As many as 10 children were reported to be among the dead. The incident underscored the growing danger of road travel in much of Afghanistan, even on main highways, and the deadly peril faced by civilians in such mundane activities as walking to school, going to the market or riding a bus. The United Nations reported last week that August had been the deadliest month so far this year for civilians, who often find themselves caught in fighting between Western troops and insurgents. At least 1,500 noncombatants had been killed this year through last month, the report said.