KABUL, Oct. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Two Afghan soldiers were killed Thursday as their vehicle hit a land mine in Baghran district in southern Afghan province of Helmand, the provincial police chief said.

    "The incident took place in Baghran district today, and killed two soldiers on the spot and their vehicle was destroyed," provincial police chief Abdul Rahman told Xinhua.

    He didn't give more details about the explosion.

    Taliban militants, failing to derail the landmark Sept. 18 parliamentary elections, have intensified attacks against Afghan, foreign troops and even civilians. Especially southern provinces like Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan and Zabul, commonly known as the heartland of Taliban, have been the scenes of increasing insurgency over the past several months.

    More than 1,400 people including rebels, Afghan and pro-government religious leaders as well as US troops have been killed in Taliban-led militancy since the beginning of this year. Enditem