5 Afghan police killed by bomb blamed on Taliban; 94 Taliban dead in fighting with troops

KABUL, Afghanistan – Police say a roadside bomb has killed five officers who were on patrol in central Afghanistan.

Asadullah Ensafi, the deputy chief police in Ghazni province, said the blast was likely from a remote-controlled bomb. It happened Thursday morning in the city of Ghazni, about 150 kilometers (95 miles) southwest of Kabul.

Ensafi says authorities are investigating but believe the Taliban are behind the attack. No one immediately claimed responsibility but the Taliban frequently use roadside bombs to attack government officials and security forces.

Also Thursday, Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense said in a statement that fighting between Taliban and security forces in several provinces has left 94 Taliban dead in the past 48 hours. The statement says 12 Afghan army troops were killed by roadside bombs and other Taliban attacks.