11 children dead in Afghan suicide attack targeting foreign convoy

Sixteen others were wounded, including foreign and Afghan security forces, when a bomb-laden car exploded in the southern province of Kandahar.

Kandahar governor spokesman Said Aziz Ahmad Azizi confirmed the casualty toll. He said five Romanian soldiers and two Afghan police were among the injured.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Romanian soldiers are tasked with providing security at Kandahar airport which is used by foreign forces.

The attack came hours after two suicide blasts in the Afghan capital Kabul killed at least 25 people including AFP chief photographer Shah Marai and eight other journalists.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Kabul attacks.

Today's blasts follow a deadly bombing last week targeting a voter registration centre in Kabul that killed at least 57 people.

Days ago, the Taliban kicked off their annual spring offensive, a rejection of the Afghan government's offer of peace talks. The militant group said the offensive was partly a response to a new US strategy that gives American forces more leeway to go after insurgents. 

Afghanistan plans to hold years-delayed elections in October while its security forces struggle to get the upper hand on the battlefield and prevent civilian casualties.

Security is a major concern in Afghanistan, with the Taliban and other militant groups controlling large swathes of territory.

Many Western and Afghan officials expect 2018 to be a particularly bloody year. 

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