KABUL, Afghanistan. (AP) — Taliban fighters attacked an army camp in the southern Kandahar province Friday, killing at least 15 soldiers, said an Afghan official.

Daulat Waziri, spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry, says the attack happened early Friday and five others were wounded.

Waziri says more than 20 Taliban militants were killed in Friday's fighting.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement and said 35 soldiers were killed and eight others were apprehended by the group.

It was the third assault by insurgents on soldiers in Afghanistan this week, including a Taliban attack Wednesday in the Maiwand district that killed 13.

Elsewhere, a roadside mine struck a bus in the western Hirat Province, killing 10 civilians and wounded six others.

Jelani Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor, provided the casualty figures and added that women and children were among those killed. He blamed the Taliban for planting the mine.