7 U.N. Mine Clearers, 5 Others Reported Slain

Gunmen shot and killed 12 people, including seven Afghans working for the United Nations’ mine clearing agency, in the western province of Herat, an aid worker said in Kabul, the capital. The seven mine clearers, all employees of the Organization for Mine Clearance and Afghan Rehabilitation, were killed near Kotal-e-Subzak on Saturday on the road between Badghis and Herat provinces, an official of the organization said. The five other victims were local Afghans, said the spokesman, Mohibullah, who uses one name. Officials of the ruling Taliban militia and the Afghan opposition traded accusations over who carried out the killings.