Four Taliban militants were killed as the mine they planted exploded prematurely in restive southern Afghan province of Ghazni Tuesday night, said a statement of Afghan Interior Ministry issued here on Wednesday.

"It was 9 p.m. local time (0430 GMT) when four enemies of peace and stability were busy in planting a mine which suddenly went off, killing the four on a road in Andar distract," the statement said.

"The militants wanted to target government troops who regularly patrolled on that area," it added.

Taliban militants have vowed to intensify their attacks against Afghan and international troops, mostly in the shapes of suicide and roadside bombings.

Source: Xinhua