This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8413163.stm
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Suicide bomb hits Afghan capital | Suicide bomb hits Afghan capital |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| At least eight people have been killed in a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials say. | At least eight people have been killed in a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials say. |
| The blast happened near a hotel in Wazir Akbar Khan district, home to several aid agencies and embassies. | The blast happened near a hotel in Wazir Akbar Khan district, home to several aid agencies and embassies. |
| Two bodyguards of former vice-president Ahmad Zia Massoud were among the dead, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said. | |
| The attack took place shortly before President Karzai opened a three-day conference on corruption there, amid pressure from the West to clamp down. | The attack took place shortly before President Karzai opened a three-day conference on corruption there, amid pressure from the West to clamp down. |
| Kabul has been hit by a number of explosions in recent months. | Kabul has been hit by a number of explosions in recent months. |
| Last month, a car bomber struck outside a Nato base in Kabul, injuring three foreign soldiers and three Afghan civilians. | Last month, a car bomber struck outside a Nato base in Kabul, injuring three foreign soldiers and three Afghan civilians. |
| Tuesday's blast is the first such attack since President Karzai was sworn in for a second term in office last month, when he pledged to tackle corruption and insecurity. | Tuesday's blast is the first such attack since President Karzai was sworn in for a second term in office last month, when he pledged to tackle corruption and insecurity. |
| 'Suicide attack' | 'Suicide attack' |
| An eyewitness was quoted as saying that a black four-wheeled drive vehicle blew up as it passed the Heetal Hotel in the upmarket area. | An eyewitness was quoted as saying that a black four-wheeled drive vehicle blew up as it passed the Heetal Hotel in the upmarket area. |
| "It drove very slow to the checkpoint of the hotel. And then it blew up," Humayun Azizi told the Associated Press news agency. | "It drove very slow to the checkpoint of the hotel. And then it blew up," Humayun Azizi told the Associated Press news agency. |
| The blackened, smouldering carcass of the car bomb has been blown onto its roof, the remains of the attacker still inside, says the BBC's Ian Pannell at the scene. | The blackened, smouldering carcass of the car bomb has been blown onto its roof, the remains of the attacker still inside, says the BBC's Ian Pannell at the scene. |
| Hundreds of police and investigators are at the site, he says. | Hundreds of police and investigators are at the site, he says. |
| The blast caused extensive damage to the surrounding area | The blast caused extensive damage to the surrounding area |
| It occurred in one of the most heavily guarded areas of Kabul, and is just the latest attack in what's been the worst year for security in Kabul since the overthrow of the Taleban in 2001, our correspondent adds. | It occurred in one of the most heavily guarded areas of Kabul, and is just the latest attack in what's been the worst year for security in Kabul since the overthrow of the Taleban in 2001, our correspondent adds. |
| The home of Ahmad Zia Massoud was among the buildings damaged, although it is not clear whether Mr Massoud was the bomber's target. | |
| Mr Massoud, a prominent opposition leader, is the brother of anti-Taleban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was killed in a suicide bombing in 2001. | |
| The Associated Press news agency said the hotel suffered damage, but quoted an unnamed intelligence official as saying none of the hotel's guests were hurt. | The Associated Press news agency said the hotel suffered damage, but quoted an unnamed intelligence official as saying none of the hotel's guests were hurt. |
| Police and emergency vehicles have taken the wounded away to hospitals. | Police and emergency vehicles have taken the wounded away to hospitals. |
| Four men and four women were killed in the blast. | Four men and four women were killed in the blast. |
| It occurred as some 200 delegates gathered at the anti-corruption conference several miles away | It occurred as some 200 delegates gathered at the anti-corruption conference several miles away |
| The meeting began with a moment's silence, before President Karzai delivered his opening address. | The meeting began with a moment's silence, before President Karzai delivered his opening address. |
| He is facing mounting Western pressure to curb the rampant problem of corruption in his country. | He is facing mounting Western pressure to curb the rampant problem of corruption in his country. |
| Meanwhile, the top US military officer held talks in Kabul on Monday ahead of a surge of 30,000 American troops to fight Taliban and other insurgents. | Meanwhile, the top US military officer held talks in Kabul on Monday ahead of a surge of 30,000 American troops to fight Taliban and other insurgents. |
| Adm Mike Mullen said violence in Afghanistan was likely to get worse before it gets better. | Adm Mike Mullen said violence in Afghanistan was likely to get worse before it gets better. |
| "I told our troops heading here to steel themselves for more combat and more casualties," he said. | "I told our troops heading here to steel themselves for more combat and more casualties," he said. |