Suicide bomber kills Afghan deputy governor

Lashkar Gah: Afghanistan's deputy provincial governor has been killed in a suicide bombing at a mosque in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, officials said.

The attack also killed five other people praying at the mosque in Lashkar Gah.

"Five people including, Pir Mohammad, (the deputy governor) have been killed in this attack," said Nisar Ahmad Barakzai of the provincial public health department.

Provincial police chief Mohammad Hussein Andiwal said 18 worshippers wounded in the attack. The mosque is located opposite government offices in Lashkar Gah.

"When people stood up for prayer, the bomber approached the deputy governor and detonated his explosives," Andiwal said.