KABUL, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Seven Afghan employees of a local road construction company were killed when their vehicle hit mines Saturday morning in eastern Afghan province of Kunar, a police officer said.

    Abdul Jalajalal, the provincial police chief told Xinhua that the blast occurred at around 8:30 a.m.(0400 GMT) in sarkanu district of Kunar province.

    However, the police chief did not say who was possibly behind the attack, adding that the mines were planted by militants days ago.

    News reports said that Taliban militants have been blamed for carrying out series of similar incidents before.

    Conflicts and Taliban-related insurgency had left more than 6,000 people dead in 2007, while observers predict more suicide attack and roadside bombing in 2008 in the post-Taliban Afghanistan.