KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan army helicopter crashed Wednesday in the western Farah province, killing all 25 people on board, including the deputy corps commander of the western zone, a provincial spokesman said.

Mohammad Naser Mehri, spokesman for the Farah governor, said the helicopter crashed around 9:10 am (0440 GMT), shortly after taking off from the mountainous Anar Dara district heading towards the nearby Herat province. On board were the body commander, Gen. Naimudullah Khalil, and two members of the Farah Provincial Council, including their chairman, Farid Bakhtawar.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, suicide bombing, Kabul, killing seven people, said Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish. The attacker targeted a bus carrying prison workers, he said. The sprawling Pul-e-Charkhi prison houses hundreds of inmates, including scores of Taliban insurgents.

Abadullah Karimi, a prison official, said the attack occurred when the prisoner was arrested.

No one has had responsibility for the attack.

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