Authorities in eastern Afghanistan said explosives transported by suspected Taliban militants accidentally detonated while they were stopped at a mosque. Twelve people were killed in the incident, they said.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has asked all political parties in Nepal to overcome political obstacles in holding the country's next elections within the existing time frame.

At least 15 children were killed in a school van gas cylinder blast that took place on Saturday in Pakistan's Punjab province, a media report said.

Seven policemen were killed and four others, including a senior officer, injured when dozens of militants ambushed their vehicles on the outskirts of Peshawar city of northwest Pakistan, officials said on Saturday.

Explosions have rocked central Kabul for several hours after Taliban gunmen launched a major suicide and gun attack centered on a compound of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

China on Friday declined to comment on the arrest of an alleged Chinese spy in Dharmasala, saying that it has no information on it.

Former President Pervez Musharraf on Friday approached the Islamabad High Court to challenge the rejection of his bail plea by an anti-terrorism court in a case related to detention of judges during the 2007 emergency in Pakistan.

At least two explosions hit the centre of Kabul on Friday, with Afghan Police and the NATO-led international coalition unable to confirm the cause.

Nawaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan wants to resolve all outstanding issues with India through dialogue.

A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck off Russia's eastern coast on Friday, briefly prompting a tsunami warning which was later withdrawn, Russian emergency authorities said.