19 civilians killed, 5 injured Afghanistan as roadside bomb struck vehicle

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan. December 7. KAZINFORM Over a dozen of Afghan civilians were killed and five others were injured as a roadside bomb struck a vehicle in Helmand province 555 km south of capital city Kabul on Wednesday, an official said; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

"A mine planted by Taliban militants struck a mini-bus outside provincial capital Lashkar Gah at around 11:00 a.m. local time today, killing 19 commuters including five children and wounding five others, all civilians," Daud Ahmadi, spokesman for provincial administration, told Xinhua.

The ill-fated mini-bus was heading on from Lashkar Gah towards Sangin district when ran over the fatal explosive device causing the casualties, he said.

He added that 12 people died on the spot while seven others were sent to a hospital.

Taliban militants fighting the Afghan government and are largely relying on suicide and roadside bombings have not to make comment yet.