KABUL (Reuters) - Two U.S. soldiers were killed in a suicide car bomb attack in a market in southern Afghanistan, NATO said Friday, adding the Taliban had claimed responsibility.
The attack happened Thursday beside a busy market in the Maywand district of Kandahar province and a district police chief told Reuters three civilians were also killed. NATO-led forces identified one dead civilian.
The attack also wounded 21 civilians.
"The bomber's target was a busy market. We strongly condemn this attack ... This attack shows the real face of the Taliban, who have claimed responsibility for this barbaric action," General David McKiernan, commander of NATO-led troops in Afghanistan, said in a statement.
NATO forces in Kabul said a Taliban spokesman posted a statement on a website, claiming responsibility.
Kandahar, one of Afghanistan's most dangerous provinces, is home to the headquarters of NATO-led forces for their operations in the south, where more than 18,000 mainly Canadian, British, Dutch and U.S. troops are locked in a battle against a resurgent Taliban.
(Reporting by Golnar Motevalli; Editing by Alex Richardson)
