Suicide blast in south Afghanistan kills many

Kabul: A suicide blast in a market place in southern Afghanistan has killed 17 civilians and four police officers, police officials said.

The attack occurred in a bazaar in Deh Rawud district in the province of Uruzgan.
A police official said 37 civilians and five policemen were wounded in the attack, adding that the death toll could rise. Most of the civilian victims were children.

The Taliban insurgents were blamed for being behind the attack, part of a rising tide of violence in Afghanistan.