2 killed in explosion in north Afghan city

One civilian and a militant were killed and 14 others wounded in bomb attack in a market place in Mazar-i-Sharif city, capital of Afghanistan's northern province of Balkh on Tuesday, an official said.

"The attack occurred roughly at 12:50 p.m. local time after one militant detonated his explosive-jacket at Mandawi, the city's food and fruit market near the main square of the city. The blast killed the attacker and a bystander on the spot," the source told Xinhua anonymously.

The target of the blast remained unknown and an investigation has been launched into the incident, the source added.

Several shops and fruits handcarts were also damaged in the explosion in the city, 305 km north of Afghan capital of Kabul.

The injured, including one woman and two children, were shifted to a nearby hospital, according to the source.

Security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

More than 1,600 civilians were killed and over 3,560 injured in the first half of the year as the violence spread in different places of the country, according to UN mission officials in Afghanistan.

Source :XINHUA