Four Nato troops die in Afghan attacks

Three Nato troops were killed by a bomb in western Afghanistan and another died in an insurgent attack in the east today, bringing to 10 the number of service members killed in the past two days.

It has been the deadliest year for international forces in the nine-year Afghan conflict.

Troop numbers have been increased to put pressure on insurgents and casualties have mounted. The escalating toll has shaken the commitment of many Nato countries, with calls growing to start drawing down troops quickly.

An improvised explosive device killed the three service members today, Nato said. American, Italian, Spanish, and Lithuanian forces are deployed in western Afghanistan.

It later announced another service member died in a militant attack in the east.