Suicide bomber kills 20 in Afghanistan

KHOST, (Afghanistan), Mar 28 (Reuters): Three suicide bombers killed 20 people in an attack on a construction firm in a restive province in southeastern Afghanistan, government officials said Monday, with the Taliban claiming responsibility for the assault. Violence across Afghanistan has spiraled in the past year, with Taliban-led militants stepping up their fight against the Afghan government and its Western backers as Kabul prepares to take over responsibility for security gradually from foreign forces. An Interior Ministry statement said the attackers forced their way into the firm's compound after killing a security guard and then detonated a truck packed with explosives.