(Herat, Afghanistan) -- Two deadly bomb blasts in Afghanistan claimed the lives of over 20 people today.

In Farah City, a suicide bomber killed 17 people and wounded 29 others in the southwestern region of the country.

The blast targeted a senior police official and two of his bodyguards who were all killed in the attack.

The attack is said to have been the work of the Taliban.

Near Kabul, a roadside bombing aimed at an Afghan lawmaker left five of his guards dead.

The lawmaker escaped the blast unharmed.

The bombings occurred on the day after Hamid Karzai was sworn in for his second five-year term as Afghanistan's president.

　

(Copyright 2009 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)