1st LD Writethru: 11 Afghan civilians injured in explosion in eastern province

MEHTARLAM, Afghanistan, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Some 11 Afghan civilians were injured in a blast in eastern province of Laghman on Saturday, the provincial government said.

"An explosion occurred at round 11:30 a.m. local time in Hajji Ayoub Market in provincial capital Mehtarlam city. A total of 11 civilians were wounded following the blast and the injured were shifted to a hospital in the city," it said in a statement.

Those among the injured were five women and two children, the statement said, adding none of the injured suffered life-threatening wounds.

The city police has launched an investigation into the incident and no group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.

The country has witnessed waves of terror attacks by Taliban insurgents and Islamic State outfit over the past few months.

A total of 188 civilians were killed and 306 injured in April elsewhere in the country, according to the Civilian Protection Advocacy Group (CPAG), an independent monitor group. Enditem