Blast Kills Nine Children as They Walk to School in Afghanistan

Nine children have been killed in a roadside blast in north-eastern Afghanistan as they made their way to school.

The children - eight boys and a girl aged between seven and 10 - accidentally stepped on a deliberately-planted mine, officials said.

So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the bomb.

Last month, the UN said 1,174 Afghan civilians had been killed in the three months until the end of September.

More than 3,000 people have also been injured over this period, the UN said.