Suicide bomber targets protest in eastern Afghanistan

At least 20 people have been killed following a suicide bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, agencies have reported.

The blast happened when protesters in Nangarhar province blocked a road between the Pakistan border and Jalalabad, officials said.

The demonstration had been organised against a local police commander when they were targeted by the suicide bomber.

"Dozens of wounded people have been brought to Jalalabad hospitals so far," Provincial health department spokesman Inamullah Miakhil added, giving a lower death toll of five. 

It is not clear what motives were behind the attack or who carried out the bombing, but the Islamic State group are active in eastern Afghanistan.

Violence has erupted across the north and east of the country in recent days, with a girls' school targeted earlier in the day, killing one boy.

A member of the local council said that 45 people had been killed or injured in the explosion.