Afghanistan declares day of mourning after deadly bomb attack

KABUL - The government declared Wednesday as a national mourning day to pay tribute for dozens of civilians, mostly religious scholars, who have lost their lives following a deadly bomb attack in Kabul, the Presidential Palace said in a statement.

On Tuesday evening, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive belt at a wedding hall where scores of religious scholars and ordinary people were celebrating the birthday of Muslims Prophet Mohammad, killing over 60 and injuring more than 90 others, according to latest figures by the country's Ministry of Public Health.

Earlier reports said that 43 people were killed and 83 others injured in the attack.

Special praying will be held at the mosques across the country and national flags will be half-hoisted at home and Afghan diplomatic missions abroad, the statement added.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack in its strongest term.

No group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.