Afghan roadside bomb kills five US Nato soldiers

                                    

A roadside bomb has killed five US soldiers serving as part of the Nato force in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province.

The deaths came after three British troops were killed by a roadside bomb this week in southern Helmand province.

The Taliban launched its annual spring offensive on Sunday, saying it would target foreign military bases and diplomatic areas.


Nato is in the process of handing security operations to Afghan forces.

Some areas have already been transferred. Just over 100,000 soldiers are still serving with Isaf; they are due to be withdrawn by the end of next year.

The US-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) released a statement saying simply Saturday's bomb was an "improvised explosive device".