KHOST, Afghanistan, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Three civilians were killed and three others were injured as their car hit a roadside bomb in Khost city capital of Khost province in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, police said.

    "Three civilians were killed and three more wounded as the vehicle they riding in hit a roadside bomb along the road in Gulzad Aka area of Khost city in the wee hours of Friday," said Guldad, the chief of criminal investigation department of Afghan National Police in the province.

    Guldad, who goes like most of Afghans in one name, blamed Taliban militants for planting the mine.

    The incident occurred one day after the swearing-in ceremony of incumbent President Hamid Karzai for his second five-year term in capital Kabul which was attended by VIPs including Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

    Taliban insurgents fighting Afghan government often planted mines on roads to target Afghan, U.S. and NATO troops.