Afghan officials blamed the ousted Taleban for the explosion on the outskirts of Kandahar but the Al-Qaeda-linked group did not immediately claim responsibility. -- PHOTO: AP

The 15-member council underlined 'the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism to justice" and reiterated that 'no terrorist act can reverse the path toward peace, democracy and reconstruction in Afghanistan''.

Afghan officials blamed the ousted Taleban for the explosion on the outskirts of Kandahar but the Al-Qaeda-linked group did not immediately claim responsibility. 'This attack is yet another tragic reminder of the insecurity in Afghanistan that is undermining concerted attempts by the international community and the government of Afghanistan to rebuild the country after decades of war,' Mr Ban said in a statement released by his press office.

The blast was one of the deadliest in Afghanistan since the fall of the extremist regime. A suicide bombing in northern Baghlan province in November last year killed 79 people ? most of them school pupils.

Scores dead
Bodies and bloodied limbs lay among boots, Afghan caps, turbans, shawls and mobile phones - some of them ringing - after the explosion that struck as two large fighting dogs were beginning a match, witnesses said.

The blast ripped up several police vans parked at the site, where spectators were crowded around a fighting arena while others sat nearby having a picnic.

One of about 500 people at the match said from a military hospital where he was being treated for injuries to his arm that the blast had knocked him unconscious.

'It was all fun and two dogs had just begun fighting,' Abdul Qudous said.

'Suddenly a huge flame flashed and a huge bang was heard. I didn't know what happened next but when I opened my eyes, I found myself here.'

Popular winter pastime
Dog fighting is a popular winter pastime in Afghanistan. It was banned under the 1996-2001 Taleban regime along with other activities like kite-flying.

Nato's International Security Assistance Force condemned the attack and said it had volunteered to help investigate.

'We are following this situation very closely,' said General Marc Lessard, Commander of Regional Command South. 'The Afghan authorities and Afghan National Security Forces are leading the investigation of this incident and we stand ready to offer ISAF support to that investigation if required.'

Authorities issued different death tolls for the attack: the interior ministry in Kabul first said more than 80 people were killed but later dropped its toll to 65 with more than 50 wounded.

'A number of wounded are in a bad condition and it is possible the number of casualties will rise,' it said.

Ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said most of the casualties were civilian men but they included several youngsters and a 'number' of policemen.

The bomber appeared to have been on foot, he said.

Kandahar governor Asadullah Khalid kept to his death toll of more than 80.

'This suicide attack was the work of the Taleban, the enemies of Afghanistan,' he said.

Wali Karzai, the brother of President Hamid Karzai and head of the Kandahar provincial council, also blamed the insurgent group, which was behind most of about 140 suicide attacks last year.

'Who else would carry out suicide bombings? Obviously the Taleban are the ones carrying out suicide attacks,' he said.

But a Taleban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi, would not confirm his group was involved.

President Karzai condemned the attack from Qatar, where he was on an official trip, accusing the 'enemies of Afghanistan who cannot tolerate the happiness of our people.' 'Such acts are against the values of Islam,' he said in a statement.

International condemnation
There was also international condemnation of the blast, with the White House saying it showed extremists here 'offer nothing but violence and death.' 'The Afghan people will not allow them stop the march to democracy and security,' said US national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called the attack 'a cowardly and abhorrent act of terrorism,' while French President Nicolas Sarkozy said it reinforced the international community's determination 'to remain at the side of Afghans to help them reconstruct a stable and reconciled country, free of terrorist and extremist threats.' -- AFP