1 dead, 8 injured in explosion in Kabul

At least one woman was killed and eight persons were injured on Monday when an improvised explosive was detonated in Kabul, official sources said.

"IED explosion in Taimani area of Kabul leaves one dead (a woman) and eight other civilians wounded," EFE news quoted the Afghan interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi as saying.

The local head of criminal investigations, General Salim Almas, said four of the injured were women.

He added that among the injured were people from two cars that were driving nearby.

The device, placed in a drain and disguised as a plastic barrel, was detonated around 5.00 p.m. local time (12.30 p.m. GMT) near a minivan that was carrying employees from the private telecommunications company Roshan, a Kabul Police spokesman told EFE.

Police arrested three suspects who had recently rented a room near the site of the blast.

They are currently under investigation, said police.

Public Health Minister Ismail Kawusi said the injured were transferred to several nearby hospitals.

No insurgent group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

This is the latest in a series of attacks in the Afghan capital in the last few weeks.

On Wednesday, militants dressed as doctors stormed the city's main military hospital, killing 35 people and injuring 53 others.

--IANS

lok/dg