Roadside bomb kills six Afghan civilians: local official

"A roadside bomb hit a civilian car in Alingar district of Laghman province, killing six people including one woman," said Laghman provincial spokesman Faizanullah Patan.

The bombing, which took place at about 10am (0530 GMT), was confirmed by interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi in Kabul, who said that four civilians had been killed.

Laghman province is located in volatile eastern Afghanistan towards the border with Pakistan and has long been troubled by insurgents, particularly by the Hezb-e-Islami faction led by former prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

Control of security in the provincial capital, Mehtar Lam, was handed from foreign to Afghan government forces' control in the first wave of transition in July.

This transition process is due to take place gradually across the country and should eventually see all foreign combat troops leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014, although a sizeable mission training Afghan forces will remain.