Kunduz (Afghanistan), Sep 4 (DPA) Ninety people were killed Friday when two hijacked oil tankers exploded in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz as Taliban militants were distributing fuel to civilians, said provincial governor Mohammad Omar.
The militants stopped the two oil trucks Thursday night on the highway connecting Kunduz with the neighbouring province of Baghlan, Omar said. The explosion occurred early Friday as civilians gathered to pick up the fuel, he said.
The cause of the blast was not immediately known, the governor said, but local residents said a military jet fired at the tanker, setting off the explosion.
Omar said 45 of the dead were Taliban, including a commander.
A security officer who asked not to be named said 200 people were killed and wounded in the explosion while residents put the casualties at 300.