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 19 | Version 20 |
|---|---|
| Suicide bomb hits Afghan capital | Suicide bomb hits Afghan capital |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| At least eight people have been killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, officials say. | At least eight people have been killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, 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. | 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. |
| In pictures: Kabul bomb attack | |
| 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. |
| Meanwhile, Red Cross (ICRC) officials have paid their first visit to detainees held by the Taliban in Afghanistan. | Meanwhile, Red Cross (ICRC) officials have paid their first visit to detainees held by the Taliban in Afghanistan. |
| The humanitarian organisation said its officials twice visited three members of the Afghan security forces held in Badghis province in the north-west of the country. | The humanitarian organisation said its officials twice visited three members of the Afghan security forces held in Badghis province in the north-west of the country. |
| "We welcome this breakthrough. We plan to conduct and repeat visits in other regions, and hope to visit people held by other armed opposition groups...," said Reto Stocker, ICRC chief in Kabul. | "We welcome this breakthrough. We plan to conduct and repeat visits in other regions, and hope to visit people held by other armed opposition groups...," said Reto Stocker, ICRC chief in Kabul. |
| '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 happened 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 Taliban in 2001, our correspondent adds. | It happened 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 Taliban 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. | 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-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was killed in a suicide bombing in 2001. | Mr Massoud, a prominent opposition leader, is the brother of anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was killed in a suicide bombing in 2001. |
| AP said the hotel suffered damage, but quoted an unnamed intelligence official as saying none of the hotel's guests were hurt. | AP 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. |
| 'Corruption commonplace' | 'Corruption commonplace' |
| The blast occurred as some 200 delegates gathered at the anti-corruption conference several miles away. | The blast occurred as some 200 delegates gathered at the anti-corruption conference several miles away. |
| After the meeting began with a moment's silence, President Karzai acknowledged corruption was widespread, but warned it would be difficult to eradicate. | After the meeting began with a moment's silence, President Karzai acknowledged corruption was widespread, but warned it would be difficult to eradicate. |
| I know that corruption in our government and society cannot be eliminated overnight Hamid KarzaiAfghan president ICRC visits prisoners of Taliban | I know that corruption in our government and society cannot be eliminated overnight Hamid KarzaiAfghan president ICRC visits prisoners of Taliban |
| "Every one of our police, every one of our soldiers, every one of our mayors, every one of our judges, every one of our governors can go to someone's house knock on the door and drag a man out of that house and terrorise him. | "Every one of our police, every one of our soldiers, every one of our mayors, every one of our judges, every one of our governors can go to someone's house knock on the door and drag a man out of that house and terrorise him. |
| "In my opinion, this is the main form of corruption," he said. | "In my opinion, this is the main form of corruption," he said. |
| But he added: "I am a realist. I know that corruption in our government and society cannot be eliminated overnight. We cannot even eleminate it in years." | But he added: "I am a realist. I know that corruption in our government and society cannot be eliminated overnight. We cannot even eleminate it in years." |
| Mr Karzai is facing mounting Western pressure to curb corruption, widely viewed as helping drive support for the Taliban. | Mr Karzai is facing mounting Western pressure to curb corruption, widely viewed as helping drive support for the Taliban. |
| 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. |
| Are you in Kabul? Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Tell us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in Kabul? Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Tell us your experiences using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |