Kabul - A roadside bomb blast killed four Afghan civilians in the western province of Herat on Monday morning, while a similar attack killed two private security guards in the eastern region, officials said. A truck was blown up by the roadside bomb in the Meyan Band area of Adraskan district of Herat province. It was carrying labourers to a construction project, said Abdul Raouf Ahmadi, spokesman for the western region police.

"Four workers were killed and three others were wounded," Ahmadi said. He blamed the attack on Taliban insurgents.

In a separate roadside blast Monday morning, two private security guards working with a construction company were killed and one other was wounded in Bak district of the south-eastern province of Khost, said Lutfullah Babakarkhel, the district administrative chief.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack and claimed five security guards were killed in the explosion.

Taliban insurgents have waged a bloody insurgency against the Afghan government and its international military allies in the country since their ouster of their regime in late 2001.

The militants have vowed to increase their attacks this year following the deadliest year 2008 that left around 5,000 people dead, mostly insurgents but also including more than 2,000 civilians. (dpa)