Large blasts heard in Kabul after Obama visit

AL Jazeera English Central & South Asia

At least three explosions heard in the Afghan capital shortly after surprise visit by US president. Last Modified: 02 May 2012 03:46

At least three explosions were heard in the Afghan capital Kabul shortly after US President Barack Obama paid a surprise visit to the country. An Afghan official said the blasts occurred in the eastern part of the city early on Wednesday, adding that explosions were followed by sporadic shooting. One of the explosions was a suicide car bomb that struck the Jalalabad road area, which is home to several foreign military bases, Kabul's police chief Mohammad Ayoub Salangi told AFP news agency. The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the car bomb attack which police said targeted a housing compound for westerners in the city. "One of our mujahideen detonated his car in front of a military base. Other mujahideen are inside the base fighting.  There are very heavy casualties for the enemy," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters news agency in a phone call. There were no immediate details on casualties or the target. Smoke was also rising from a guesthouse near Kabul's main airport and at least two wounded people were seen, one woman suffering from serious burns, an AFP photographer on the scene said. US President Barack Obama left Kabul only hours before the attacks after signing a strategic agreement with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The US embassy, which neighbours the AFP bureau in Kabul, said its embassy was "under lockdown" and warned staff to "take cover, move away from the windows". "Duck and cover here at the embassy. Not a drill - avoid the area," the US embassy said on Twitter.

Source: Agencies

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