Afghanistan: Suicide bombers strike govt building, kill 11

Two suicide bombers on Tuesday rammed their explosive laden vehicle into a local government building compound near Afghanistan's western city of Heart, killing at least 11 people and wounding 22 others.

"A suicide bomber blew up his vehicle, packed with explosives, as people gathered outside the district's police headquarters building in Guzara district," said General Sayed Agha Saqeb, Heart's provincial police chief.

The massive explosion broke a long spell of peace in the region, where security is being gradually handed over to the Afghan army by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation alliance.

An interior ministry statement said, "Two bombers driving a car, packed with explosive materials, wanted to enter to the Guzara district of the Herat province, but they were stopped by the police."

"When they were stopped, they blew up the car killing 11 people (8 civilians and 3 policemen) and wounding 22 civilians, including children and women," it said.

Herat police chief Agha Saqeb said the bombers triggered the explosions as people were waiting to go inside to meet the district chief to discuss their problems and other issues.

The police tried to stop the bombers but they succeeded in detonating explosives at the gate, creating mayhem. Witnesses said they saw a lot of mangled bodies at the spot.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but suicide car bombings are hallmarks of the Taliban.