8 Afghan civilians killed in fighting, bombing

Kabul: An official says eight Afghan civilians have been killed in violence in the southern province of Helmand.

Provincial government spokesman Dawood Ahmadi said Thursday four of the civilians were killed in a crossfire between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants.

The clash happened early Wednesday after militants fired on an Afghan forces patrol, sparking a gunbattle in Marjah district.

A major operation by Nato forces earlier this year was intended to wrest Marjah from insurgents and reassert government control.

Ahmadi says authorities are investigating to determine exactly how the deaths happened.

He said four other civilians were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Nawzad district Wednesday afternoon.