Explosion kills 40 at gathering of clerics

At least 40 people have been killed in an explosion at a meeting hall in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the health ministry says.

At least 60 people were also injured as religious scholars met at the Uranus hall in PD15 district to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.

A government spokesman said initial reports suggested a suicide bomber.

Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group have carried out regular bomb attacks in Afghanistan.

The death toll from the explosion is one of the worst capital for months.

At least 1,000 people were in the hall at the time of the explosion, Tolo News quoted eyewitnesses as saying.

No-one has yet admitted responsibility for the blast.

The Islamic State group said it was behind two attacks in Kabul in August that killed dozens of people. latest in the