Attacks kill at least 17 Afghan soldiers and militia men

An Afghan police official says a suicide bomber on foot killed two Afghan soldiers northwest of the capital Kabul.

Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the Kabul police chief, says two soldiers were also wounded today in the blast.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, officials say a Taliban ambush on Thursday killed at least 15 militia fighters loyal to Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, the country's vice president, in the northern province of Faryab.

Abdul Satar Barez, the deputy governor of Faryab province, says 15 militia fighters were killed and four wounded. But deputy provincial police chief Baryalai Basharyar says 20 militia fighters died in the attack.