At least 15 children die as bomb blast hits religious gathering in Afghanistan

Children gathered at a home in Ghazni province to recite Quran verses, says official

KABUL:

At least 15 children were killed when a motorbike laden with explosives blew up near a religious gathering in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, officials said.

The children had gathered at a home in Ghazni province to recite Quran verses, a regular activity on the holy day of Friday, when the blast happened.

"Unfortunately, as a result of this incident 15 people, all children, were martyred," said Wahedullah Jumazada, spokesman for the province's governor.

Ghazni police confirmed the blast and that all victims were children. Twenty other people, including some children, were wounded.

Interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian earlier said the group had gathered in Gilan district to recite the Quran.

Peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government to end the country's grinding war are on pause until January.

Violence has surged across the country since the talks opened in September in the Qatari capital of Doha, with the Taliban trying to get an upper hand.

Taliban and government forces have regularly clashed in Ghazni province, where the insurgents control several areas.

Thirty security personnel were killed last month when a suicide car bomber struck an army base near Ghazni city, the provincial capital.