Kandahar  - A bomb ripped through a bus carrying wedding guests in southern province of Kandahar, killing the newly-married couple and eight others, police said Saturday.

The explosion took place in Spin Boldak district, close to border with Pakistan on Saturday morning, Matiullah Khan, provincial police chief said.

"Both the groom and the bride and eight others including women and children were killed in this attack," Khan said, adding that six others were wounded.

No group immediately took responsibility for the attack. However, Taliban militants have recently heavily relied on the use of roadside and suicide attacks as part of their campaign to topple the western-back Afghan government.

Khan blamed "enemies of our country" for the attack, a term often used by Afghan officials to describe Taliban insurgents. (dpa)