Suicide bomber kills 17 in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A suicide bomber blew himself up near a gas station in southern Afghanistan, killing 17 people and injuring 20 more, an official said Saturday.
The fatalities were nine security guards and eight civilians, said Gov. Abdul Ahad of Gereshk District.
Taliban militants claimed responsibility for the attack in Helmand province and said they had killed 33 guards, Ahad said.