AFP, August 2, 2008

Afghan bride, groom among 13 dead in wedding bus blast

Spin Boldak border police commander Abdul Raziq said that 13 had died - eight woman, two children and three men.

KABUL: A suspected militant bomb struck a minibus carrying a newly married couple in Afghanistan killing the bride and groom and 11 wedding guests, police said on Saturday.

The device that blew up the wedding party in the southern province of Kandahar was likely planted to target security forces, provincial police chief Mutiullah Khan said. He said 10 people were killed in the blast near the town of Spin Boldak close to the Pakistan border.

“A roadside bomb exploded under a minibus carrying a bride and groom. Ten people including the bride and the groom were martyred,” he said.

But Spin Boldak border police commander Abdul Raziq said that 13 had died - eight woman, two children and three men.

Six other people were wounded in the attack on the wedding convoy, both officials said.

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