Taliban blast in Kabul kills four Afghan soldiers

KABUL: At least four Afghan soldiers were killed and around a dozen people including six civilians wounded when a roadside bomb planted by the Taliban exploded in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, officials said.

The blast, caused by a remote-controlled bomb, targeted an Afghan army bus in the western part of Kabul, the Ministry of Defence said.

"In a remote-controlled bomb attack against an army bus at 6:45 am (0215 GMT) in Aqa Ali Shams in Kabul, four army personnel were killed and 12 wounded, including six civilians," the ministry said in a statement.

Broken glass and debris were strewn around the site of the attack as security officials cordoned off the area.

Jandad, a government employee who witnessed the blast and who goes by one name, told: "We were waiting for our shuttle bus to go to the office when we heard a big bang.

"Later I saw a bus from which they were removing several Afghan army soldiers, most blood-soaked."

He added that the bomb appeared to have been placed in the divider in the middle of the road that separates traffic.

The Taliban, who have this year stepped up their attacks against the Afghan security forces, claimed responsibility via their official Twitter account.