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, the alliance says.

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

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 Just over 100,000 soldiers are still serving with Isaf; they are due to be withdrawn by the end of 2014.

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

The statement did not give further details of the bomb’s location or the nationality of those killed, but police in Kandahar and unnamed US officials told news agencies the troops were American.

The deaths bring the toll for coalition troops in 2013 to 47, 37 of which were American.

Most Nato troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014 – when all combat operations are due to finish – although a small number will remain in support roles.

R.S