US-led forces searched mountains in Afghanistan on Saturday for an American unit missing for four days, while a roadside bomb attack on a convoy including UN and US vehicles killed at least four Afghan troops. The blast in the south-eastern province of Paktika slightly wounded the provincial police chief and critically wounded his driver, as well as killing four soldiers, Paktika Governor Gulab Mangal said.
The incident came amid growing violence by Taleban and allied militants aimed at derailing September 18 parliamentary polls, the next big step in Afghanistan's difficult path to stability.
Mangal said the 20-25 vehicle convoy included UN officials and US soldiers from Paktika's Provincial Reconstruction Team, as well as officials of the province, police and army.
UN spokesman Adrian Edwards said reports from UN staff said that four police officers and two Afghan soldiers had been killed, but there were no UN or US casualties. Edwards said the UN staff had been on a mission to discuss security with tribal leaders.
Earlier, a spokesman for the US military said US aircraft attacked a militant compound on Friday in Kunar province, where a search for a missing US reconnaissance team has been under way.
Lieutenant-Colonel Jerry O'Hara said had no information to support a Taleban claim that the strike had killed 25 civilians.
US HELICOPTER DEAD FLOWN HOMEThe US team has been missing since Tuesday, when insurgents shot down a helicopter bringing Special Forces troops to their aid, killing all 16 aboard.
The casualties were the heaviest in any combat incident for US forces in Afghanistan since they overthrew the Taleban in 2001. The remains of the troops killed - eight from airborne Special Forces units and eight Navy Seal commandos - were flown to the United States on Friday night.
US spokesmen have not said how many US troops are missing but say they were a "small" team and they have no reason to believe they have been killed or captured - contrary to Taleban claims.
The US military says militants in the area, bad weather and mountainous wooded terrain have hampered the search.