Officials have informed that seven alleged Taliban members have been arrested in connection with a suicide bombing that killed six NATO troops in Afghanistan.

CNN reported on Monday that the May 18 blast killed five U. S. soldiers, including one colonel and two lieutenant colonels, and a Canadian colonel. Twelve Afghan civilians were also killed.

The bombing was carried out on a road near a registration center for the Afghan army.

Those arrested last week were working for Taliban "shadow governor" Daoud Surkha, who allegedly operated out of Pakistan, Afghan intelligence spokesman Saeed Ansari said.

CNN also said that the Taliban uses a system of shadow governors to operate in Afghan provinces.

The five U. S. soldiers killed were Col. John M. McHugh, 46, of New Jersey; Lt. Col. Paul R. Bartz, 43, of Wisconsin; Lt. Col. Thomas P. Belkofer, 44, of Ohio; Staff Sgt. Richard J. Tieman, 28, of Pennsylvania; and Spc. Joshua A. Tomlinson, 24, of Louisiana.

It was further reported that Canada's Ministry of National Defense named the Canadian soldier as Royal Canadian Regiment Col. Geoff Parker, 42, of Oakville, Ontario.