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Huge blast near Nato Kabul base Huge blast near Nato Kabul base
(30 minutes later)
A suicide car bomb has exploded outside the Nato headquarters in Kabul, killing at least three people and wounding about 70, Afghan officials say. A suicide car bomb has exploded outside the Nato headquarters in Kabul, killing at least three Afghan civilians and wounding about 70, officials say.
A plume of smoke was seen rising above the area, where the presidential palace and embassies are also located. A plume of smoke was seen rising above the area, where the presidential palace and several embassies are also located.
The explosion comes less than a week before Afghanistan stages presidential and provincial elections. The explosion comes days before presidential and provincial elections.
Taliban insurgents have vowed to disrupt the elections and have stepped up their attacks in recent weeks. The Taliban have vowed to disrupt Thursday's poll but the BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says another group is more likely to be responsible.
The blast rocked Kabul's heavily fortified area on Saturday morning. 'People lying there'
The blast hit the heavily fortified area of the city on Saturday morning.
"It was a suicide bombing carried out in a car right in front of Isaf (the Nato-led peacekeeping force)", Afghan defence ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said, speaking from the scene.
Sirens blared as police and ambulances rushed to the area which was sealed off by international forces.Sirens blared as police and ambulances rushed to the area which was sealed off by international forces.
"Several vehicles have been badly damaged and must have lots of casualties," one witness told the AFP news agency. "I could see people lying there."
The BBC's Martin Patience says there will be real concern that there will be more attacks in the city in coming days.
He says that attacks inside the capital are relatively rare but have tended to be big ones.
The last major attack on the capital was in February when several gunmen, some wearing suicide vests, attacked the Ministry of Justice.
In July,2008, a massive car bomb killed more than 50 Afghans and two diplomats outside the Indian embassy.
These two attacks were believed to have been carried out by a group called the Haqqani network, our correspondent says.
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