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Loud explosion in Afghan capital Suicide bomb hits Afghan capital
(40 minutes later)
A loud explosion has rocked the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, reports and witnesses say. A suicide car bomb has struck the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least one person and wounding others.
Reports said that the blast happened in the city's high-security Wazir Akbar Khan area where many diplomats and foreigners live and work. The blast happened near a hotel in the city's Wazir Akbar Khan area where many diplomats and foreigners live and work.
Windows on nearby buildings have been shattered and a cloud of smoke was seen from the area, the report said. There is extensive damage to buildings in the area. The house of a former vice-president, Ahmed Zia Massoud, was also badly damaged, reports said.
There is still no information about casualties or the cause of the explosion, reports say. The blast took place shortly before President Hamid Karzai opens a three-day conference on corruption.
The explosion happened shortly before Afghan leader, President Hamid Karzai, opens a three-day conference on corruption, as he faces mounting Western pressure to curb the rampant problem in his country. 'Suicide attack'
On Monday, the top US military officer held talks in Kabul ahead of a surge of 30,000 American troops to fight Taliban and other insurgents. A defence ministry spokesman said that the dead and injured were civilians.
"I believe it was a suicide attack. So far 16 wounded and one dead have been evacuated to our hospital, the military hospital," General Mohammad Zahir Azimi told the AFP news agency.
"They are all civilians, including men, women and children."
An eyewitness was quoted as saying that a black four-wheeled drive vehicle blew up as it passed the Heetal Hotel in the upscale Wazir Akbar Khan area.
"It drove very slow to the checkpoint of the hotel. And then it blew up," Humayun Azizi told the Associated Press news agency.
The wreckage of the car was in flames outside the hotel, reports say.
Police and emergency vehicles have taken the wounded away to hospitals.
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.
US surge
Tuesday's explosion happened shortly before President Karzai opens a three-day conference on corruption in Kabul.
He is facing mounting Western pressure to curb the rampant problem 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.
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.