Afghan Blast Kills Four Children, Wounds Dozens

KABUL -- A mine blast in Afghanistan's eastern Nangrahar Province has killed four children and injured dozens more people, including NATO soldiers, according to the country's Interior Ministry.

The ministry said in a statement that the blast occurred when a passing police vehicle hit a mine.

The ministry called it a terrorist act, implying the mine had been planted by insurgents.

Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, the spokesman for the provincial governor, said that children had gathered around soldiers who were visiting a U.S.-funded road-construction project when the mine was detonated.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said nine of its soldiers were among the wounded.

compiled from agency reports