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Bomb rocks India's Kabul embassy Bomb rocks India embassy in Kabul
(about 2 hours later)
A suicide bomber has rammed a car full of explosives into the gates of the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital, killing 28 people, officials say. A suicide bomber has rammed a car full of explosives into the gates of the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital, killing 41 people, officials say.
A spokesman for the health ministry said 141 people were injured, including civilians and security forces. More than 140 were injured, including civilians and security forces, in the attack in the morning rush hour.
The attack is one of the deadliest - after a relatively quiet period in Kabul. The Taleban have vowed to step up their attacks on the capital. India's defence attache, Brig R Mehta, was one of those killed.
There has been a sharp increase in violence, mainly in the south and east. The attack is one of the deadliest in Kabul after a relatively quiet period there. The Taleban have vowed to step up their attacks on the capital.
Glass falling No-one has admitted being behind the Indian embassy attack.
Smoke was seen rising from the scene of the blast as police cordoned off the area. President Hamid Karzai said the attackers wanted to undermine good relations between Afghanistan and India.
Ambulances were carrying away wounded from the scene. India also condemned the "cowardly terrorists' attack". The US condemned the "needless act of violence", as did the European Union, which described it as a "terrorist attack targeting innocent civilians".
People were also queuing for visas at the time. Afghanistan has seen a sharp increase in violence in the south and east.
"I couldn't feel anything," Abdul Raziq, who was distributing newspapers at the time, told the BBC. The bomb exploded as people were queuing for visas at the embassy.
"I saw glass falling down from buildings, before the area was crowded with ambulances, police and forces of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf)", Mr Raziq said. "I saw glass falling down from buildings, before the area was crowded with ambulances, police and forces of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf)", Abdul Raziq, who was distributing newspapers at the time, told the BBC.
In pictures: Afghan bomb attack
Ali Hassan Fahimi said shrapnel had landed into his office, which is close to the site of the blast.Ali Hassan Fahimi said shrapnel had landed into his office, which is close to the site of the blast.
"It was so strong... and our staff got shocked," he said. "It was so strong... and our staff were shocked," he said.
Two embassy vehicles entering at the time were damaged, reports say. It is not clear if any of the occupants were killed. Two embassy vehicles entering at the time were damaged. Reports said an Indian diplomat and two Indian guards were also killed.
Reports said two Indian guards were feared to be dead. But the Indian defence ministry has only confirmed the death of Brig Mehta.
"The defence ministry will be sending a transport aircraft to bring back the bodies of those killed and the injured," a spokesman said.
Indonesia has also said five Afghan security guards at its Kabul embassy were killed.
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
Officials in Jakarta said they did not believe they were targeted, but it was simply because the two embassies were close to each other.
India has close relations with Afghanistan. It has been funding a number of large infrastructure projects, correspondents say.India has close relations with Afghanistan. It has been funding a number of large infrastructure projects, correspondents say.
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.
"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.
Mr Baheen said the Indian ambassador had not been there at the time of the attack. 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."
In a statement, India strongly condemned the "cowardly terrorists' attack". Afghanistan's interior ministry said it believed the attack was carried out "in coordination and consultation with an active intelligence service in the region".
"Such acts of terror will not deter us from fulfilling our commitments to the government and people of Afghanistan," the government spokesman said. It did not specify. But in the past, Afghanistan has accused Pakistani agents of being behind a number of attacks on its soil.
In April, there was an assassination attempt against the Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the city.In April, there was an assassination attempt against the Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the city.
And earlier in the year, Taleban militants launched an attack on the Serena hotel killing several people.And earlier in the year, Taleban militants launched an attack on the Serena hotel killing several people.


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