WEB DESK
A suicide bomb attack in the Afghan capital on Thursday left at least 18 people dead and around 10 others wounded, local media reported.
The Khaama Press quoting a security official said the suicide bomber detonated his explosives as people were coming out of the hotel after participating in a political gathering organised in support of of Ata Mohammad Noor, the provincial governor of Balkh and chief executive of the mainly ethnic Tajik Jamiat-e-Islami.
The Bakhtar news agency said dozens of people had been killed and many were wounded in the attack. However, security officials could not confirm the number of casualties.
According to the Interior Ministry Noor is the Governor of the northern province of Balkh and a leader of the mainly ethnic Tajik Jamiat-i-Islami party.
The explosion was the latest in a wave of violence in Afghanistan that has killed and wounded thousands of civilians this year. Political tensions are up as politicians have begun jockeying for position ahead of presidential elections expected in 2019.
A spokesman for the interior ministry said the suicide bomber approached a hotel hosting the gathering in the Khair Khana district of Kabul, on foot.
The dead included five policemen and two civilians, and many more were wounded.
President Ashraf Ghani yesterday sacked the chairman of the Independent Election Commission, raising doubts over whether parliamentary and council ballots scheduled for next year will take place as planned.