A roadside bomb Tuesday hit a bus in Farah province of western Afghanistan, killing eight civilian passengers, an official said.

The bus was on its way to neighboring Nimroz province, said Younus Rasuli, deputy governor of Farah province.

There has been no immediate responsibility claim.

Bombing attacks are on the rise in Afghanistan, where insurgency-related conflicts and violence left 8,000 people dead last year.

Anti-government militants usually launch suicide blast and roadside bombing attacks against the Afghan government and Afghan-based foreign troops, which, however, frequently cause civilian casualties.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2008)