Afghanistan: explosion at mosque; 8 killed

The blast went off in the yard of a mosque in the Farmay Adha area, 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of the city of Jalalabad, as people gathered to mark the death of Younis Khalis, a former mujahedeen commander, who died July 19.

Photo: Afghanistan: explosion at mosque; 8 killed

Gen. Abdul Basir Solangi, provincial police chief, said the bomb was planted in a car used by police to drive to the mosque to attend the service, and five policemen inside the vehicle were killed.

Gul Agha Shirzai, the governor of Nangahar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital, was inside the mosque at the time of the blast, but was not hurt, Solangi said.

Ajmal Pardis, chief of the main hospital in Jalalabad, said eight bodies had been brought to there including three children and some bodyguards of the governor. It wasn't immediately clear if the bodyguards were the same as the five dead policemen, the AP reports.

Pardis said 16 people were being treated for injuries, including four children.