GHAZNI - Thousands of Afghans demonstrated on Tuesday in Ghazni city, capital of the eastern Ghazni province, to protest against beheading of seven civilians by militants.

On Saturday night, militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group beheaded seven civilians, including two women and a child, in southern Zabul province, bordering Ghazni. The victims were kidnapped by the militants along a main road months ago.

The protesters were carrying the bodies of the victims while marching toward the provincial government office building to demand justice.

"We demand the government bring to justice all those involved in the brutal killing of innocent civilians," protester Mohammad Jaffar told Xinhua.

Carrying banners with "murderers should be brought to justice," and "death to Taliban, death to Daesh" the demonstrators called upon the government to protect the roadways and provide security for traveler.

They also demanded punishment for those behind the barbaric murder.

Earlier in the day, members of Afghan civil society also held a protest in the Afghan capital of Kabul calling for punishment of those who committed the crime.

On Monday, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and the government's chief executive Abdullah Abdullah strongly condemned the killing of civilians in Zabul.

Nearly 1,600 civilians were killed and more than 3,300 others wounded in conflicts and attacks in the first half of the year, according to UN mission figures. (Xinhua)