Afghan bombing death toll rises to 68

Sixty-eight people have been killed after a suicide bomber detonated a vest filled with explosives at a protest in eastern Afghanistan.

The death toll from a suicide bombing among a group protesting a police commander in eastern Afghanistan has risen to 68, up from 32.

Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor, says 165 others were wounded in the attack a day earlier.

Tuesday's bombing happened when a group from the district of Achin came to Momandara district to block the main highway between the capital Jalalabad and the Torkham border with Pakistan.

The Taliban denied any involvement in the attack.

No any other group immediately claimed responsibility but both Taliban insurgents and the Islamic State are active in eastern Afghanistan, especially in Nangarhar province.

Tuesday's bombing was one of the worst in Afghanistan for months but security officials have warned that similar attacks are likely if crowds gather for campaign rallies ahead of parliamentary elections in October.