Parliamentarian among 20 killed in Afghanistan bombing

Kabul, July 14 (IANS) At least 20 people, including an Afghan parliamentarian, were killed and 40 injured in a suicide bombing at a wedding hall in the northern Afghan province of Samangan Saturday morning, an official said.

Parliamentarian Ahamd Khan Samangani was killed in the attack which took place at around 8 a.m. in Qasri-e- Almsas wedding hall in the provincial capital of Aibak city, police spokesperson in northern region Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai told Xinhua.

Some officials, including the provincial intelligence head, were among the dead when a wedding party came under the massive attack, an official said.

No group has as yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

The powerful blast damaged the building and also smashed the windowpanes of several buildings.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since they launched an annual spring offensive dubbed "Al-Farooq" from May 3 against Afghan and NATO-led troops stationed in the country.

The insurgent group warned that they would attack members of parliament and high peace council. They also warned people against supporting the government and foreign troops.