14 civilians injured as mortar mine slams residential area in N. Afghanistan

MAIMANA, Afghanistan, June 17 (Xinhua) -- A total of 14 civilians including women and children were injured as a mortar mine fired by warring sides struck a house in Khawaja Sabzposh district of Afghanistan's northern Faryab province on Sunday, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said Monday.

"A mortar mine fired by militants struck a house in Khawaja Sabzposh district on Sunday afternoon, wounding 14 civilians including seven women and three children, some in critical conditions," Rezai told Xinhua.

Rezai blamed the Taliban militants for firing the mortar.

But Taliban militants who are active in parts of Faryab district have yet to claim responsibility.