Ten Afghan Demination Workers Killed

At least 14 others were injured when the rebels attacked their camp and opened fire, said Afghanistan's Interior Ministry.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban spokesman, Zubiullah Mujahed, told Radio Free Europe that the group is not involved in the attack.

province police spokesman Jawed Basharat said workers were engaged in the international mine-clearing organisation Halo Trust. The organisation has not commented on the incident.

According to its website, the nongovernmental organisation has more than 2,600 employees in Afghanistan, one of the world's most mined countries.

Halo Trust says its staff is recruited by towns and villages where land mines are located.

In recent months in the province of Baghlán, fierce fighting has taken place between Taliban and government forces.

Violence has increased significantly throughout Afghanistan since the United States in April announced plans to withdraw all their troops by 11 September.

Taliban leaders are fighting government troops in 26 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, government officials say. / REL