Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


19 Killed in Mine Blasts as Hopes for Peace Gather Momentum in Afghan

Ayesha Tanzeem

   ISLAMABAD - Nineteen Afghan civilians were killed in multiple roadside
   mine blasts in Kabul and Kandahar Sunday.

   Two of the blasts occurred inArghistandistrict of Kandahar province in
   southern Afghanistan.

   In the first incident, a Toyota pickup carrying civilians hit a
   roadside mine near Shana Nari village killing nine and wounding two
   more Sunday afternoon, according to a spokesman for Kandahar provincial
   police, Jamal Barakzai.

   The second incident occurred near Tajaw village when a van hit a mine,
   killing eight Sunday night.

   Meanwhile in Kabul, two civilians including a woman were killed while
   security personnel were trying to deposeofa roadside landmine.

   The civilian casualties happened on a day whenAfghanPresident Ashraf
   Ghani announced he would release the remaining
   400Talibanprisoners--removing the last remaining hurdle to the start of
   direct negotiations with the militant group.

   Reducing civilian casualties and working toward a ceasefire is expected
   to be the highest priority of the Afghan team--an amalgamation of
   government representatives, other political factions, and civil society
   activists--when it meets the Taliban in Doha in the coming days. The
   two sides are supposed to negotiate a political settlement that ends
   four decades of conflict in Afghanistan.

.