A roadside bomb struck a civilian car in Paktika province, east of Afghanistan, leaving seven non-combatants dead, Mukhlis Afghan, the spokesman for the provincial administration said Sunday.

"The lethal device planted by Taliban rebels struck a civilian car in Yahyakhil district Saturday evening killing seven innocent civilians including three children," Afghan told Xinhua.

Taliban militants have yet to make comment.

Civilians are the main victims of conflicts in Afghanistan.

The roadside bombings and suicide attacks used by Taliban militants against security forces often claim the life of civilians in the militancy-plagued country.

A report released by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) last August said that militancy and conflicts had left 1,271 civilians dead and injured 1,997 in the first six months of 2010, up 31 percent against the same period in 2009.