AFGHAN-2NDLD BLAST 2 LAST

Though no body claimed immediate responsibility for the
attack, Afghan officials said, it had all the hallmarks of a
Taliban strike. The city has recently been scene of a number
of strikes by the Taliban, including one on an NATO convoy,
which killed six Italian soldiers and 10 civilians.

So powerful was the impact of the Thursday's blast, it
blew away the perimeter watch tower as well as a car parked
outside the Embassy compound almost 20 metres away.

The road outside was littered with debris, smouldering
vehicles, body parts, bloodied clothing. The bomb left a
massive crater on the road outside the Embassy.

The blast took place on the main road in Shahar-i-Nau
dividing the Embassy from the Afghan Interior Ministry office
and other major government buildings.

Two sports utility vehicles, one of them with UN
markings, were also badly damaged in the attack, which took
place as people were arriving to work. It shattered glass and
buildings almost a kilometre away.

A UN spokesman confirmed that two of the world body's
vehicles were parked near the site of the blast and one of
them was damaged with the driver escaping unhurt. UN vehicles
for security purposes are armour plated.

After last year's devastating attack, the Indian Embassy
had raised its security perimeter wall and erected a number of
watch towers on them. The main entrance to the building has
been barricaded with entry restricted.

The whole area was sealed off and a headcount was taken
of all Embassy personnel. PTI