Taliban bomb wrecks 24 NATO fuel tankers

A Taliban bomb attack on tankers carrying fuel to NATO forces caused a blaze which destroyed up to 24 lorries, officials said.

The civilian lorries were parked overnight in a large staging area when a bomb exploded on one and the fire quickly spread.

Afghan drivers managed to save many trucks from the attack in Samangan province, but around two dozen were lost.

Sidiq Azizi, a provincial spokesman, said the explosion happened in the early hours and firemen spent hours trying to control the blaze.

"There was a big boom. It's possible that it was a magnetic bomb from insurgents," he said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility.