KANDAHAR - A suicide bomber killed four civilians on Monday in Afghanistan`s southern Kandahar province, an official said, as violence escalates ahead of an anti-insurgent offensive by U.S. and NATO troops.
              
The bomber was on foot and the target seemed to have been a vehicle carrying a district chief and bodyguards in the volatile province, the official said. The district chief escaped unhurt, but four pedestrians died in the blast, he said.
              
The resurgent Taliban largely rely on suicide attacks as part of their campaign against Afghan government soldiers and foreign troops currently building to around 150,000 as part of a surge strategy masterminded by Washington.
              
Violence has been at its peak this year in Afghanistan, the bloodiest since U.S.-led forces overthrew the Taliban government in 2001.

BDST: 1145 HRS, August 02, 2010