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| Bomb rocks India embassy in Kabul | Bomb rocks India embassy in Kabul |
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| A suicide bomber has rammed a car full of explosives into the gates of the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital, killing 41 people and injuring 141. | A suicide bomber has rammed a car full of explosives into the gates of the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital, killing 41 people and injuring 141. |
| Five embassy personnel were killed - India's defence attache, a senior diplomat and two security guards - as well as an Afghan man. | Five embassy personnel were killed - India's defence attache, a senior diplomat and two security guards - as well as an Afghan man. |
| Five Afghans died at Indonesia's embassy nearby. | Five Afghans died at Indonesia's embassy nearby. |
| No-one has admitted being behind the attack, one of the deadliest in Kabul since the Taleban overthrow in 2001. | No-one has admitted being behind the attack, one of the deadliest in Kabul since the Taleban overthrow in 2001. |
| Afghanistan has seen a sharp increase in violence, particularly in the south and east - and Taleban militants recently vowed to step up their attacks in the capital. | Afghanistan has seen a sharp increase in violence, particularly in the south and east - and Taleban militants recently vowed to step up their attacks in the capital. |
| But the latest blast - in what was supposed to be a secure area of Kabul - will greatly concern Afghan government officials, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul. | But the latest blast - in what was supposed to be a secure area of Kabul - will greatly concern Afghan government officials, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul. |
| President Hamid Karzai said the attackers wanted to rupture good relations between Afghanistan and India. | President Hamid Karzai said the attackers wanted to rupture good relations between Afghanistan and India. |
| India also condemned the "cowardly terrorists' attack", but vowed it would not be deterred from fulfilling its commitment to the government and people of Afghanistan. | India also condemned the "cowardly terrorists' attack", but vowed it would not be deterred from fulfilling its commitment to the government and people of Afghanistan. |
| The US condemned the "needless act of violence", as did the European Union, which described it as a "terrorist attack targeting innocent civilians". | The US condemned the "needless act of violence", as did the European Union, which described it as a "terrorist attack targeting innocent civilians". |
| The bomb exploded as people were queuing for visas at the embassy. | The bomb exploded as people were queuing for visas at the embassy. |
| "We were standing in a line to get visas, the police told us to stand on one side, the women were in another line, then suddenly I heard a huge bang and I sat down. I was very afraid," Khan Zaman said. | |
| Ali Hassan Fahimi said shrapnel had landed in his office, which is close to the site of the blast. | Ali Hassan Fahimi said shrapnel had landed in his office, which is close to the site of the blast. |
| "It was so strong... and our staff were shocked," he said. | "It was so strong... and our staff were shocked," he said. |
| India has close ties with Afghanistan. It is involved in aid and reconstruction work, including the building of Afghanistan's new parliament. | |
| Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta visited the Indian embassy shortly after the attack, his spokesman Sultan Ahmed Baheen said. | Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta visited the Indian embassy shortly after the attack, his spokesman Sultan Ahmed Baheen said. |
| RECENT ATTACKS IN KABUL April 2008: Gun attack on parade attended by President KarzaiMarch 2008: Six people die in car bomb attack on coalition convoyJan 2008: Six people killed in Taleban attack on Serena hotelDec 2007: At least 13 people killed in a suicide car bombingSept 2007: Suicide bomb attack on bus kills 30 Afghan soldiersJune 2007: Bomb attack on Afghan police bus kills up to 35 people In pictures: Afghan bomb attack | RECENT ATTACKS IN KABUL April 2008: Gun attack on parade attended by President KarzaiMarch 2008: Six people die in car bomb attack on coalition convoyJan 2008: Six people killed in Taleban attack on Serena hotelDec 2007: At least 13 people killed in a suicide car bombingSept 2007: Suicide bomb attack on bus kills 30 Afghan soldiersJune 2007: Bomb attack on Afghan police bus kills up to 35 people In pictures: Afghan bomb attack |
| "India and Afghanistan have a deep relationship between each other. Such attacks of the enemy will not harm our relations," Mr Spanta told the personnel at the embassy, the spokesman said. | "India and Afghanistan have a deep relationship between each other. Such attacks of the enemy will not harm our relations," Mr Spanta told the personnel at the embassy, the spokesman said. |
| And the Indian government spokesman said: "Such acts of terror will not deter us from fulfilling our commitments to the government and people of Afghanistan." | And the Indian government spokesman said: "Such acts of terror will not deter us from fulfilling our commitments to the government and people of Afghanistan." |
| Afghanistan's interior ministry said it believed the attack was carried out "in coordination and consultation with an active intelligence service in the region". | Afghanistan's interior ministry said it believed the attack was carried out "in coordination and consultation with an active intelligence service in the region". |
| It did not specify. But in the past, Afghanistan has accused Pakistani agents of being behind a number of attacks on its soil. | It did not specify. But in the past, Afghanistan has accused Pakistani agents of being behind a number of attacks on its soil. |
| In a statement, Pakistan's foreign minister said his country "condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations". | In a statement, Pakistan's foreign minister said his country "condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations". |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Send us your experiences using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Send us your experiences using the form below: |