The reported attack in the central Uruzgan province appears to be the latest case of violence against anyone involved in September's elections.

The former ruling Taliban group has been accused of trying to wreck the country's first democratic poll.

Two women died on Saturday in a bomb attack on female election workers.

Local police officials said the Uruzgan killings happened after a group of suspected guerrillas stopped a van carrying civilians.

There are differing accounts as to how many occupants there were and whether they were shot dead immediately or whether the van was taken to a neighbouring province before the killings.