A suicide bombing killed three civilians and injured seven others in Paktika province of eastern Afghanistan, local Outlook newspaper reported Thursday.

The explosion occurred in Barmal district bordering Pakistan on Wednesday, Outlook quoted district chief Azizullah Hayayee as saying.

The bomber detonated himself in a market after he failed to reach a base of the U.S.-led coalition forces, he said, adding three injured were in serious condition.

A purported Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the bomber named Abduallah was from the eastern Khost province.

Due to rising Taliban-linked insurgency, over 1,200 persons, mostly Taliban militants, have been killed in Afghanistan this year.

Source: Xinhua