13 die as van hits roadside bomb in Afghanistan

Kabul: The Afghan government says a roadside bomb has ripped through a van in the country's south, killing 13 people.

The Ministry of Interior says the explosion struck in Shamulzayi district of Zabul province on Saturday morning.

The ministry also says two gunmen riding on a motorcycle killed a local council member in Nahri Sarraj district of Helmand province on Saturday.

And in Kabul, several hundred people demonstrated against rocket attacks that have killed an estimated 36 civilians along the eastern border with Pakistan in recent weeks.

Pakistan's army has said no rounds were intentionally fired but that some may have accidentally fallen in Afghanistan in fighting with militants carrying out cross-border attacks.