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Kabul blast hits foreign military convoy Kabul blast hits foreign military convoy
(about 1 hour later)
A large blast has ripped through central Kabul as a suicide bomber targeted a foreign military convoy in the first major attack in the city for weeks.A large blast has ripped through central Kabul as a suicide bomber targeted a foreign military convoy in the first major attack in the city for weeks.
The explosion occurred near the main entrance to the heavily fortified US embassy at about 8am during heavy rush-hour traffic, causing several casualties, an AFP photographer said. The Reuters news agency said at least one foreigner in a uniform lay dead at the scene. The explosion occurred near the main entrance to the heavily fortified US embassy at about 8am during heavy rush-hour traffic. Three foreign troops were killed and five injured, said Isaf, the Nato-led military coalition in Afghanistan. Nationalities of the victims were not immediately given.
At the side of the road foreign troops gave first aid to injured people. At least one vehicle from the convoy was destroyed by the blast, which was also close to the supreme court and a military base.
It shook nearby buildings and set off sirens at the US embassy as emergency vehicles raced through the streets to the scene, which is one of the busiest intersections in the Afghan capital.
“It was a suicide car bomber targeting a foreign forces convoy along the airport road,” Farid Afzali, chief of the city’s police investigation department, told AFP.“It was a suicide car bomber targeting a foreign forces convoy along the airport road,” Farid Afzali, chief of the city’s police investigation department, told AFP.
The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility via a recognised Twitter account.The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility via a recognised Twitter account.
At the side of the road foreign troops gave first aid to injured people. At least one vehicle from the convoy was destroyed by the blast, which was also close to the supreme court and a military base.
It shook nearby buildings and set off sirens at the US embassy as emergency vehicles raced through the streets to the scene, which is one of the busiest intersections in the Afghan capital.
A day earlier the two presidential candidates in Afghanistan’s disputed 14 June election held talks on ending the stalemate over who won the race to succeed Hamid Karzai, who has ruled since the fall of the Taliban.A day earlier the two presidential candidates in Afghanistan’s disputed 14 June election held talks on ending the stalemate over who won the race to succeed Hamid Karzai, who has ruled since the fall of the Taliban.
The standoff has destabilised the country ahead of the withdrawal of most foreign troops by the end of the year.The standoff has destabilised the country ahead of the withdrawal of most foreign troops by the end of the year.
Taliban insurgents have been exploiting the uncertainty, launching bombings and attacks on government officials across the country.Taliban insurgents have been exploiting the uncertainty, launching bombings and attacks on government officials across the country.
Material from Reuters and Agence France-Presse was used in this reportMaterial from Reuters and Agence France-Presse was used in this report