Suicide blast kills 8 people in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, Nov 12 (KUNA) -- At least eight people were killed and 20 others wounded when a suicide bomber targeted a gathering in Afghan capital city Kabul on Monday, said officials.
The spokesman for Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI), Najib Danish, said in a statement that the suicide bomber blew himself up after police recognized him before entering a protest rally in Pashtunistan Square in Kabul.
Hundreds of protestors were gathered in the area throughout the day to protest against the insecurity and rebel threats in southern Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces of Afghanistan.
The suicide bomber was spotted due to strict security in the area since morning following the march by protestors towards the Afghan Presidential Palace.
The official confirmed that eight people were killed and 20 others, including a policeman, were wounded in the blast.
The explosion took place close to the busy circle, which is in the same area as the ministries of finance and justice and close to the Presidential Palace. Security forces cordoned of the area and a probe into the incident went underway. The injured were shifted to the nearest medical facilities.
There was no claim of responsibility for the suicide attack so far.
The attack came a day after United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad discussed peace process with Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani.
The US envoy will visit different countries in the region including Afghanistan, Pakistan, the UAE and Qatar to push for peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban to negotiate an end to the 17-year conflict in Afghanistan. Earlier last week, a multinational meeting on Afghan peace process concluded in Moscow which was attended by the Taliban delegation as well. (end) sbk.rk