Kabul  -  Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday strongly condemned a suicide attack on a market in Zarang city, the capital of the southern province of Nimruz, in which about 23 people, mostly civilians, were killed.

A statement issued by the Presidential Office spokesman quoted Karzai as saying: "The enemies of Afghan people, while carrying out the suicide attack in the market when people were busy with daily life, once again shows their anti-Islamic manner and enmity to the Afghan people."

Karzai, while offering condolence to the families of Thursday's attack, said, "Those behind such cruel activities will never escape God's punishment."

The attack on the market killed 23 people and wounded 31 others, mostly civilians, including several children, according to Gholum Dastagir Azaad, the provincial governor.

The police chief of Khashroad district and the border police chief of the province were among those killed in the attack, according to Azad.

"It seems there was more than one bomber, because one person couldn't carry enough explosive to cause such a big explosion," the governor said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for Thursday's attack, but such attacks in the past have been carried out by Taliban insurgents, whose regime was ousted in late 2001 by US-led invasion. (dpa)