Afghanistan

TALIBAN authorities pledged to step up security at Shia mosques as hundreds of people gathered at the weekend to bury the victims of the second attack on worshippers in a week.

Hard-line Sunni group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on the Fatima mosque in Kandahar that saw suicide bombers shoot their way into the mosque before blowing themselves up among the worshippers on Friday.

A health official said 41 people died and 70 others were wounded but the casualty toll could rise as some of the wounded were in a critical condition.