Two dead, 16 wounded in Kabul mosque blast

A bomb has exploded during weekly prayers at a mosque in an eastern part of Kabul, killing two people, including the prayer leader, and wounding at least 16, officials said.

According to Kabul police chief's spokesman, Basir Mujahid, the bomb was concealed in the microphone used to deliver the sermon on Friday.

The prayer leader, Maulvi Samiullah Rayan, was the intended target, the spokesman added.

No militant group immediately claimed responsibility but both the Taliban and the Islamic State group regularly stage attacks in the country's capital.

The Kabul neighbourhood where the bombing took place is dominated by ethnic Pashtuns, most of whom are Sunni Muslims and who make up the backbone of the Taliban movement.

Meanwhile, a car bombing wounded 12 people late on Thursday in the southern city of Kandahar.

Provincial council member Yousaf Younasi said the bombing targeted insurgents from neighbouring Pakistan's secessionist Baluchistan Liberation Army.