Afghan police say 18 civilians, including children, died when their minibus ran over a roadside bomb in southern Helmand province, according to AP. Deputy provincial chief Kamaluddin Sherzai says the explosion took place Friday morning in Nahri Sarraj district. He says insurgents fired at police who responded to the explosion but that there were no casualties among the policemen. However, Sherzai says three Afghan policemen died in a fight with insurgents Thursday night in Helmand's Gereshk district. -- SPA
