Government officials in northern Afghanistan say as many as eight people were killed by a suicide bomb attack near a mosque today, the first day of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.
The explosion in the city of Baghlan happened as people were leaving the mosque after prayers for Eid al-Adha.
A local government official, Amir Gul, said two commanders of Afghan militia forces were among those killed and the rest were civilians.
Baghlan police chief Asadullah Shirzad said the suicide bomber walked into the area to carry out the attack.
The blast came two days after Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar reportedly urged his fighters to avoid civilian casualties in the decade-long Afghan war.
Meanwhile, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says one of the soldiers has died following an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan.
A statement from NATO said the attack occurred on November 5 but gave no details about the soldier's nationality or where the attack occurred.
compiled from agency reports
The explosion in the city of Baghlan happened as people were leaving the mosque after prayers for Eid al-Adha.
A local government official, Amir Gul, said two commanders of Afghan militia forces were among those killed and the rest were civilians.
Baghlan police chief Asadullah Shirzad said the suicide bomber walked into the area to carry out the attack.
The blast came two days after Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar reportedly urged his fighters to avoid civilian casualties in the decade-long Afghan war.
Meanwhile, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says one of the soldiers has died following an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan.
A statement from NATO said the attack occurred on November 5 but gave no details about the soldier's nationality or where the attack occurred.
compiled from agency reports