NATO says eight coalition service members are among the dead. Six were killed by an improvised explosive device in eastern Afghanistan. Two others were killed in southern Afghanistan.

A surge in Afghan and coalition forces during the past two years
routed Taliban fighters from many of their strongholds in the south, but the insurgents have stepped up their attacks this summer in an effort to reclaim territory. So far this year, more than 225 NATO service members have been killed.

Sixteen civilians and five Afghan policemen were also killed
Sunday. The civilians included women and children. They were killed
in three blasts in a district along Afghanistan's border with Pakistan. At least 10 civilians were injured.

The number of Afghan civilians killed dropped 36 percent in the
first four months of this year compared with last year, but the
U.N. says too many are still being caught up in violence.