A roadside bomb in southern Afghan province, Helmand, has killed 19 people, 12 of them are women and children.

A roadside bomb in southern Afghan province, Helmand, has killed 19 people, 12 of them are women and children.

"Nineteen people including seven women and five children have been killed in today's IED (improvised explosive device) attack. The seven women are from the same family. Five people have been injured", provincial security force commander Mohammad Ismail said.

Helmand governor's spokesman Daud Ahmadi also confirmed the death toll. Previously he put the toll at 12.

The blasts came as the civilians travelled from provincial capital , historically one of the most troubled in Afghanistan.

Parts of Helmand remain highly unstable although Lashkar Gah is under the control of Afghan forces and three other districts are due to transition from NATO to Afghan security control within weeks.

  The deaths came the day after 59 people were martyred as they were commemorating Ashura ceremony at two shrines in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif.