A total of 24 civilians were killed and 11 others injured in two powerful bomb blasts minutes apart on Thursday morning in Obe district in western Afghan province of Herat, Interior Ministry said.

"Two separate anti-vehicle mines went off at around 08:30 a.m. (GMT 0400) Thursday on a road in Obe district of Herat province and struck two vehicles including a minibus. As a result 24 civilians were killed and 11 others injured," said a statement issued by Interior Ministry.

Five women were among those killed and seven children were among the 11 wounded people, the statement said.

The statement blamed enemies of Afghanistan, a term referring to Taliban insurgents, for the bloody attack. However, according to local media reports, Taliban denied involvement in the attack.

Taliban militants have been largely relying on roadside bombing and suicide attacks in fighting Afghan security force and NATO-led troops based in Afghanistan, often causing civilian casualties.

A total of 1,462 Afghan civilians were killed in the first half of 2011, a 15 percent rise over the same period of 2010, according to the United Nations mid-year report released in Kabul on July 14.