Officials in southern Afghanistan say a suicide bomber has attacked afleet of fuel tankers intended for international troops, killing atleast eight Afghan drivers.

A spokesman for the governor ofHelmand province says the attack late Friday in the Girishk districtburned at least six tanker trucks and wounded 21 people.

Militantsregularly target foreign security forces and have attacked convoysdelivering supplies to U.S. and NATO troops in the past.

Elsewherein Helmand, Britain's Ministry of Defense said a British soldier waskilled early Friday in an explosion, while carrying out an operationnear the town of Sangin.

NATO says attacks in Afghanistan between January and May were up nearly 60 percent compared to the same time last year.  

Thecommander of U.S. forces in South Asia and the Middle East, GeneralDavid Petraeus, says the violence will likely increase as internationalforces attack militant sanctuaries and safe havens.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.