Suicide bomb in Kabul during Hagel visit: Officials
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Defence secretary Chuck Hagel (left) walks with US Marine General Joseph Dunford, commander of the International Security Force, upon Hagel's arrival near Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday, March 8, 2013. Mr Hagel arrived in Afghanistan Friday for his first visit as Pentagon chief, saying that there are plenty of challenges ahead as Nato hands over the country's security to the Afghans. -- PHOTO: AP
KABUL (AFP) - A large suicide bomb exploded near the defence ministry in central Kabul during a visit to the Afghan capital on Saturday by new US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, officials said.
A spokesman for the Afghan defence ministry said that there were civilian casualties but he did not give any further details.
"A suicide attacker has detonated himself within 30 metres of the defence ministry gate, there have been casualties among civilians, but defence ministry personnel have not suffered any casualties," Mr Zahir Azimi told AFP.
One soldier covered in blood at the scene said he had helped carry five people from the attack site.
