Helmand market bomb 'kills eight'

The bomb was left in an abandoned vehicle, police said. The Taleban has been blamed for the attack.

Nato troops frequently clash with the Taleban in Helmand - an opium production centre and insurgent stronghold.

Helmand police chief Mohammad Hussein Andiwal accused the Taleban of targeting civilians to "create fear in the people".

He told the Associated Press news agency that there were no security forces in the area at the time of the explosion.

Correspondents say that the Taleban frequently target Afghan and international security forces, but this year they have increased their attacks on civilians as well.