Kabul, Sep 2 (DPA) Afghanistan's deputy intelligence chief and 21 other people, including women, children and government officials, were killed Wednesday in a suicide attack in the country's eastern Laghman province, officials said.

Abdullah Laghmani, the deputy head of Afghanistan's intelligence service, was visiting his hometown to inaugurate a newly constructed mosque Wednesday morning when the bomber blew himself up in the crowd.

'The attack killed 18 civilians and four government officials,' Sayed Ahmad Safi, spokesman for the provincial governor, said. He confirmed that Laghmani, the head of provincial council, and two other senior provincial officials were among those killed.

The bomber detonated his explosives in front of the main mosque in Metarlam city, the provincial capital.

Farid Rahid, spokesman for the public health ministry, had earlier said that at least 10 dead bodies including three women and a number of children and more than 40 wounded people were brought to a provincial hospital.

Interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary confirmed that 'several civilians and government officials were killed and wounded,' but did provide any figures.