At least 15 dead in bus blast

EDIT CONTAINS 4:3 MATERIAL

At least 15 people have been killed after a roadside bomb exploded near a bus in Mazar-e- Sharif in northern Afghanistan.

Police say the bus was carrying passengers who were enroute to a wedding.

The victims-- some of them children-- lay in hospital beds awaiting treatment.

One of the doctors said some patients will need long term care.

(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) DAWOOD RUSTAIE, SURGICAL DOCTOR AT MAZAR-E-SHARIF REGIONAL HOSPITAL, SAYING: "Most of the blast victims are in critical condition, some of them slightly wounded but some others have badly injures and need to a prolong treatment."

Police say insurgent groups who use IEDs or improvised explosive devices, to target Afghan and coalition troops usually end up hitting civilians instead.