Members of the Afghan parliament and residents in a northern Afghanistan community were killed when a suicide bomber lunged toward the government officials as they approached a sugar factory. News reports indicate several dozen people, including school children, died and scores were injured.

"The terrorist attack (Tuesday) in Afghanistan is a despicable act of cowardice and it reminds us who the enemy is -- extremists with evil in their hearts who target innocent Muslim men, women and children," the statement said.

"The president expresses his sorrow for the grieving families of the victims, and he is committed to working with the government of Afghanistan and our NATO allies to fight the terrorists who use murder to advance their hateful ideology," the statement said.