29 killed as suicide bomber hits Afghan bank (Second Lead)

Kabul June 22 (IANS) At least 29 persons were killed in a suicide car bomb attack on a bank branch in the southern Afghan province of Helmand on Thursday officials said.

The blast took place at about 12 noon outside a branch of a New Kabul Bank in the provincial capital Lashkargah Tolo News reported. Nearly 50 persons were injured said Omar Zwak a spokesman for the provincial governor.

Zwak said civilians and military were among the victims.

Officials said military personnel and civilians had converged at the bank to draw salaries ahead of Eid when the bomb was detonated.

The injured were shifted to a hospital. The number of casualties was likely to rise said the spokesman.

Earlier reports stated that gunmen had stormed the bank. However officials later clarified that the reported shooting was carried out by security guards near the bank after the blast.

--IANS
soni/mr