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| Suicide bomb hits Afghan capital | Suicide bomb hits Afghan capital |
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| At least five people have been killed in a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials say. | At least five 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, where many diplomats and foreigners live and work. | The blast happened near a hotel in Wazir Akbar Khan district, where many diplomats and foreigners live and work. |
| Two bodyguards of former vice-president Ahmed Zia Massoud were among the dead, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said. | Two bodyguards of former vice-president Ahmed Zia Massoud were among the dead, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said. |
| The blast took place shortly before President Karzai opened a three-day conference on corruption there, amid pressure from the West to clamp down. | The blast 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 wreckage of the car was in flames outside the hotel, reports say. | The wreckage of the car was in flames outside the hotel, reports say. |
| The blast caused extensive damage to the surrounding area | |
| 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. |
| The force of the blast hurled the vehicle 10ft (3 metres) away and left a large crater in the street leading to the hotel, AP said. | The force of the blast hurled the vehicle 10ft (3 metres) away and left a large crater in the street leading to the hotel, AP said. |
| Police and emergency vehicles have taken the wounded away to hospitals. | Police and emergency vehicles have taken the wounded away to hospitals. |
| 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 |
| 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. |