Deaths in Kabul suicide bombing

Two people have been killed and several wounded after a suicide bomber struck a US military convoy in the Afghan capital, police have said. An Afghan civilian and a security guard died in Tuesday's car bombing near a defence ministry building in central Kabul, a senior police official said.

Three white armoured vehicles, used by foreign forces and diplomatic staff, were also damaged by the blast which shattered windows.

Lieutenant Colonel David Johnson, a spokesman for US-led troops, confirmed that no US military officers were injuried in the attacks.

"There was no one injured from our convoy," Johnson said. "Our convoy was on a routine mission."

Surging violence

A spokesman for the Hizb-e Islami armed group of Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar claimed responsibility for the attack.