Blast in north Afghanistan kills 9 civilians, wounds 24

At least nine civilians were killed and 24 others wounded in a bomb blast in the Khwaja Ghar district of northern Takhar province of Afghanistan, said officials on Thursday.
The governor's spokesman, Sunatullah Taimur told that the blast occurred in the main market of district headquarters that intended to target a convoy of Afghan Local Police (ALP) but the explosive planted on a motorbike went off prematurely, which caused civilian causalities.
The Director of public health, Dr. Hafizullah Sapi confirmed receiving nine dead bodies and 24 others with multiple injuries including women and children.
The attack came at a time when Afghanistan audits votes from a disputed presidential election to pick a successor to the current president, Hamid Karzai.