Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan, September 27 (NDTV.COM) A suicide bomber struck outside the compound of a southern Afghan provincial governor on Tuesday, killing 18 people and wounding 17.

The attacker was stopped by Afghan soldiers at the compound's first security gate when the bomber detonated his suicide vest.

The spokesperson for the Helmand provincial governor Ghulam Muhiddin said 12 civilians and six policemen were killed while 17 others were wounded.

Governor Mohammed Daoud Safi was inside the compound and was not injured in the attack.