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Many dead in Afghan suicide blast Many dead in Afghan suicide blast
(about 6 hours later)
A suicide bomber has killed at least 15 people and wounded 14 others in eastern Afghanistan, Nato says. A suicide bomb in eastern Afghanistan has killed at least 18 people, including 11 police officers, the government has said.
The explosion took place in Nangarhar province close to Pakistan. Nato says Afghan troops are among the casualties. The explosion took place in Nangarhar province close to the Pakistani border.
There were international soldiers in the area at the time of the attack but they were not hurt, the alliance says. Nato says that insurgents first attacked its troops, before a suicide bomber set off explosives, but no foreign troops were injured.
The Taleban, who have been fighting foreign and Afghan troops since they were overthrown in 2001, said they carried out the attack. The Taleban, who have been fighting foreign and Afghan troops since 2001 said they carried out the attack.
The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul says there has already been a significant increase in the number of attacks in eastern Afghanistan in the first few months of this year compared with 2007. The Afghan government said that 41 people, including two foreign journalists, were also injured in the incident.
The Interior Ministry added that the police were preparing to carry out an opium poppy eradication operation when the attack took place, in Khogyani district, south of the city of Jalalabad.
'Confusion''Confusion'
Tuesday's blast occurred in Khogyani district south of the city of Jalalabad.
Reports said officials and villagers were attending an anti-drugs meeting when the bomber struck.
"Insurgents engaged with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades," Major Martin O'Donnell, a spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), told the French news agency AFP."Insurgents engaged with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades," Major Martin O'Donnell, a spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), told the French news agency AFP.
"It appears that when that happened, people went for cover. They [the attackers] snuck a suicide bomber in the midst of the confusion.""It appears that when that happened, people went for cover. They [the attackers] snuck a suicide bomber in the midst of the confusion."
An Isaf statement said a number of Afghan troops were among those killed and wounded.
One man who witnessed the attack said he had seen a young boy carrying white papers approach the crowd.One man who witnessed the attack said he had seen a young boy carrying white papers approach the crowd.
"All of a sudden I saw a big, red flame from among the crowd where the boy was standing and a big explosion followed," the man told AFP."All of a sudden I saw a big, red flame from among the crowd where the boy was standing and a big explosion followed," the man told AFP.
"People were running and some were screaming. I don't remember much.""People were running and some were screaming. I don't remember much."
Major O'Donnell said Isaf soldiers were in the area but it was not yet clear if they were the target of the attack. Civilians
He said no Isaf soldiers were wounded. Other reports from local officials said an even higher number of people had been injured. The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul says there has already been a significant increase in the number of attacks in eastern Afghanistan in the first few months of this year compared with 2007.
A Taleban spokesman said the movement had carried out the attack.
"We claim responsibility for the blast in Khogyani," the man, who identified himself as Qari Sajad, was quoted by AFP as saying.
Taleban fighters launched scores of suicide attacks and other bombings last year. Most of those killed were civilians.Taleban fighters launched scores of suicide attacks and other bombings last year. Most of those killed were civilians.
In other violence, Nato said that one of its personnel had been killed and another hurt in an attack in the north-eastern province of Kapisa.In other violence, Nato said that one of its personnel had been killed and another hurt in an attack in the north-eastern province of Kapisa.
Karzai plot
Meanwhile, Afghanistan's intelligence chief has said President Hamid Karzai was warned of a plot to assassinate him weeks before Sunday's attack on a Kabul military parade.Meanwhile, Afghanistan's intelligence chief has said President Hamid Karzai was warned of a plot to assassinate him weeks before Sunday's attack on a Kabul military parade.
Amrullah Saleh told parliament the security services had failed in their duty to prevent the attack, from which Mr Karzai escaped unharmed. Three other people died.Amrullah Saleh told parliament the security services had failed in their duty to prevent the attack, from which Mr Karzai escaped unharmed. Three other people died.
The Taleban say they carried out the attack and that three of their fighters were killed.The Taleban say they carried out the attack and that three of their fighters were killed.