Women among 12 injured in Zabul blast

QALAT (Pajhwok): Three women and as many policemen were among a dozen people  injured when a bomb fixed to an Afghan Local Police (ALP) vehicle went off at a crowded marketplace in southern Zabul province, an official said on Wednesday.

The explosion took place on Tuesday in the Shah Joy district, Public Health Director Lal Mohammad Tokhi told Pajhwok Afghan News. He said the injured were rushed to hospital for treatment.

Security officials say tight security measures have been put in place for the presidential runoff poll to enable voters to cast their votes in a fear-free environment.

Police chief Brig. Gen. Ghulam Sakhi Rogh Lewanai said cleanup operations had been launched in various parts of the province to improve security in the lead up to the June 14 election.

The blast comes the day five American troops were killed after coalition planes mistakenly bombed them during an engagement with insurgents in Arghandab district of the province.

The US said it was looking into the NATO airstrike that killed the five American troops.

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