At least 13 people were killed and 57 injured in two successive suicide attacks at a NATO base in central Afghanistan early today. Reports quoting local police officials said a suicide bomber detonated himself at the gate of the NATO base in Sayedabad district of Maidan Wardak province.

At the same time, another suicide bomber following him in a truck also detonated his explosives, killing 10 civilians and three policemen. According to the reports the explosion was so huge that a nearby market was completely destroyed. Officials did not deny the possibility of more casualties in the attack. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack.

In two different incidents, two children were found beheaded in different places in eastern and southern Afghanistan on Friday. The intension behind the gruesome murder is not known. No group has claimed responsibility for the crime.

These incidents follow the beheading of 17 persons, including two women, in southern Helmand province last week, when they were returning from a dance and singing party.