Afghan car bomb kills seven and turns buildings to rubble

Huge explosion in western Herat province injures at least 53 people

A powerful car bomb near a police station on Friday night killed at least seven people and wounded more than 50 others in Afghanistan's western Herat province. EPA

Dozens of homes and shops were also damaged in the blast . EPA

No one claimed responsibility for the bombing but local officials blamed Taliban insurgents. EPA

An Afghan boy injured in the blast receives medical treatment at a hospital in Herat, Afghanistan. EPA

An Afghan man receives medical treatment at the same Herat hospital. EPA

A powerful car bomb which exploded near a police station on Friday night in Afghanistan's western Herat province killed at least seven people and wounded more than 50 others, officials said.

Herat Governor Sayed Abdul Wahid Qatali said several women and children were among the dead, and that at least 53 people including civilians and security forces were injured.

Dozens of homes and shops were also damaged as rescuers rushed to the scene to help several people trapped under the rubble, Mr Qatali said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing but local officials are blaming the Taliban, although it has yet to comment.

Peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Qatar's capital Doha struggled to make progress amid international calls to reduce violence.

Russia plans to hold a conference on Afghanistan in Moscow on March 18 and has invited several regional players, including the Afghan government.

It comes at a crunch time for the peace process, with the May 1 deadline for foreign troop withdrawal from Afghanistan looming.