Explosion rocks Afghan capital near US Embassy

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

Explosion rocks Afghan capital near US Embassy
By AMIR SHAH (AP) – 16 minutes ago

KABUL — A large blast shook a road near the U.S. Embassy and an American military base in Afghanistan's capital on Thursday, killing at least two people.

The blast occurred about 12:10 p.m. and smoke could be seen rising from the site soon after. An Associated Press reporter saw two bodies on the ground, both severely burned.

Dozens of vehicles were burned, including at least one Humvee. Sirens rang through the area as emergency vehicles arrived.

The explosion was the fourth major attack in the capital in five weeks.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9AOV13G0

---

UPDATE:

Kabul convoy attack 'kills six'

The blast comes amid rising tension in Afghanistan
Italy says a bomb attack on one of its military convoys in the Afghan capital, Kabul, has killed at least six people.

The Italian Defence Ministry said it was unclear how many of the dead in the apparent suicide blast were Italians.

At least 38 others were injured in the attack, the Afghan health ministry said. Reports said two Italian military vehicles were hit by the bomb.

The latest attack comes amid mounting violence between the Taliban and foreign and Afghan security forces.


more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8260419.stm

[aquart]

1. Thanks.

Sent an email telling my friend there to check in!

[tocqueville]

2. 6 Italians soldiers confirmed dead, 2 wounded

KABUL (AFP) – A massive suicide car bomb ripped into a NATO convoy killing six Italian soldiers and 10 Afghan civilians on Thursday in one of the deadliest attacks on Western troops in Kabul, officials said.

The explosion struck just after midday about 1.5 kilometres (one mile) from the US embassy gates on the busy airport road, destroying at least one vehicle in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Six Italian soldiers were killed and another three wounded, the Italian defence ministry announced after the Taliban claimed one of the worst single attacks on the more than 100,000 NATO and US-led troops serving in Afghanistan.

Armoured vehicles showing the Italian flag and marked with the ISAF logo were damaged, scattering twisted metal across the blood-stained road and shops destroyed by the power of the blast, witnesses said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090917/wl_afp/afghanistanunrestblast_20090917111932