A roadside bomb in Afghanistan has killed at least 21 people travelling to a wedding in the south of the country, officials say.

Helmand provincial police chief Assadullah Sherzad said that women and children were among those killed in Garmsir district.

In a separate incident, five Aghan police were killed by a roadside bomb in the Nadali district of Helmand, the BBC reported.

Roadside bombs are frequently used to attack foreign and Afghan forces. Thousands of Nato troops are conducting offensives in Helmand.

The incident happened on Wednesday, although information was not released until Thursday.

Afghan Gen Shir Mohammad Zazai said those killed had been travelling on a tractor and a trailer, and he blamed the incident on the Taliban.

"It is the work of the enemy of the nation, it is the work of the enemy of peace and the work of the Taliban," he said.

The Afghan defence ministry confirmed the incident and the death toll. Officials say at least five other people were injured.

Afghan troops have been sent to the area to help with rescue efforts, officials said.

Garmsir district is a militant stronghold where US Marines have been trying to flush out insurgents ahead of presidential and provincial council elections on 20 August.

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