THE US military regrets any offence it may have caused by handing out a soccer ball emblazoned with the name of Allah on it as part of a public relations exercise in Afghanistan, a spokesman said yesterday.

The US military regrets any offense it may have caused by handing out a soccer ball emblazoned with the name of Allah on it as part of a botched public relations exercise in Afghanistan, a spokesman said today.

A suicide attacker blew himself up at a hospital opening ceremony in eastern Afghanistan today, wounding at least two NATO soldiers and a health worker.