Nine Afghan policemen died yesterday as they were bringing back the bodies of four Macedonians kidnapped and killed by the Taliban.
In a separate incident, the Taliban claimed responsibility for killing a powerful former governor of the eastern province of Ghazni, who was shot dead along with four bodyguards.
Kandahar Governor Assadullah Khalid had said five policemen had been killed after the bodies of the Macedonians were discovered hidden under brush and sticks in a valley near the border with Helmand province.
"At first, the information we got was five policemen were killed and three wounded," Khalid said.
"But after the bodies were brought to Kandahar, we found that nine policemen had been killed," he said.
Several police vehicles were returning with the bodies when one was hit by a blast, apparently caused by a mine, he said. Three policemen were wounded.
Violence has increased in Afghanistan in recent months, especially in the south and east, as the Taliban and allied militants step up their battle to oust foreign forces and overthrow the Western-backed government.
The Taliban have vowed to step up violence, including more suicide bomb attacks, in coming weeks as the weather warms up and snow blocking mountain passes melts. U.S. commanders have also said they expect an increase in insurgent raids and bombs.
NATO members including Britain, Canada and the Netherlands are sending thousands more troops to Afghanistan while the United States is hoping to trim its 18,000-strong force by about 3,000.