Many feared dead in Kabul blast

A powerful explosion rocked a busy market area in the centre of Kabul, the Afghan capital, today and there were reports of at least 22 deaths.

The blast erupted in mid-afternoon at the market near the ministries of information and education. Police and soldiers sealed off the area, but witnesses could see people being led away bleeding.

The blast appeared to be the most serious in a string of bombings that have occurred in the Afghan capital since August 15.

President Hamid Karzai was not in Kabul. He had travelled to Kandahar for the wedding of his younger brother.

One report said a small blast was followed soon after by a massive explosion.

They occurred in one of the most congested areas of the city on a day when many do their shopping before Friday’s Muslim prayer day.

The blasts came a few days after a rebel commander, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, issued a call for jihad, or holy war, to drive US forces out of Afghanistan.