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Many killed in Afghan explosion Many killed in Afghan explosion
(about 3 hours later)
At least 25 people, including a number of children, have been killed in an explosion in central Afghanistan, officials say.At least 25 people, including a number of children, have been killed in an explosion in central Afghanistan, officials say.
The blast in Mohammad Agha district in Logar province happened after a truck carrying timber overturned on a road.The blast in Mohammad Agha district in Logar province happened after a truck carrying timber overturned on a road.
The vehicle blew up as the authorities were trying to remove it and clear the road, local police told the BBC.The vehicle blew up as the authorities were trying to remove it and clear the road, local police told the BBC.
Logar province lies immediately to the south of Kabul and is a major centre for the Taliban insurgency.Logar province lies immediately to the south of Kabul and is a major centre for the Taliban insurgency.
But the local authorities said that it was not yet clear if the blast was deliberate or if it was an accidental explosion. The explosion happened on a main road from southern and eastern Afghanistan that leads into the capital, Kabul early on Thursday.
The explosion happened on a main road from southern and eastern Afghanistan that leads into the capital, Kabul. The residents of Soark Abad village found an overturned truck with a punctured tyre and called in the police, a senior ministry of education official told the BBC.
"Two police vehicles arrived at the spot. As soon as the vehicles arrived, the truck exploded," Gen Aminullah Amarkhel said.
"The power of the explosion was so powerful that it shattered the glasses of nearby houses and scattered wood, debris and other things around. A lot of people working in the farms also got hurt."
Four of the dead were police officers but the rest were civilians including many children, police authorities in Mohammad Agha told the BBC.Four of the dead were police officers but the rest were civilians including many children, police authorities in Mohammad Agha told the BBC.
The governor of the Mohammad Agha district told the AFP news agency that 12 bodies had been identified and that most of them were school students. Photo: Bilal Sarwary File picture of the highway which connects Kabul with Gardez and goes through Logar" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">Taliban have attacked troops on a key highway in Logar
"We are still trying to recover bodies from under the debris of collapsed shops. There are more people dead," Abdul Hameed Hamid said.
Reports say that some people have also been wounded but police say they cannot confirm the exact number of injuries.Reports say that some people have also been wounded but police say they cannot confirm the exact number of injuries.
Afghanistan's interior ministry has blamed the attack on insurgents. Local police officials said that the explosives were possibly being taken to Kabul for a planned attack.
Local authorities had earlier told the BBC that it was not clear whether insurgents were responsible for the explosion.
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary says that the key Kabul-Gardez highway that connects Kabul with south-eastern Afghanistan passes through Logar province and Taliban and al-Qaeda militants have targeted Afghan and international forces there before.
Afghan intelligence officials believe that militants use the province to smuggle weapons and fighters in to the Afghan capital.
A US military offensive against the Taliban is underway in Afghanistan troubled southern province of Helmand.A US military offensive against the Taliban is underway in Afghanistan troubled southern province of Helmand.