Taliban kill aid workers and civilians in two separate incidents

Twelve civilians, including six aid workers, have been shot dead by insurgents in two separate incidents, Afghan officials said.

Jamel Danish, media adviser for the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation, said the bodies of six people were found in the Gulran district of western Herat province.

Mr Danish said the six were kidnapped on Sunday by the Taliban and killed after negotiations failed. He said five worked for an international non-governmental organisation and one worked for the ministry.

The ministry has programmes which seek to improve the lives of Afghans from remote regions.

Rohullah Samon, a spokesman for eastern Paktia province, said six unidentified civilians were found dead at a roadside. He had no other details.

The Taliban regularly target government employees.

AP