Suicide bombing kills three NATO soldiers in Kabul

At least three soldiers of the NATO-led coalition forces were killed and six civilians were wounded in a suicide car bombing here Friday.

"Three International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) service members died following a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack in Kabul, Afghanistan Friday," the ISAF said in a statement.

The Taliban insurgent group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred in Kabul's Jalalabad Road.

The ISAF statement did not disclose the nationalities of the victims under the ISAF policy.

According to police, one armoured military vehicle was completely destroyed and several other civilian and military cars were wrecked due to the strong explosion in the area where many military centres and construction companies are located.

The blast took place when the convoy was running close to a NATO base involved in training of the Afghan security forces. Several nearby houses and shops were also damaged, said a witness.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since the militant group launched a rebel offensive in April against Afghan and ISAF forces.

More than 84,000-strong ISAF troops, down from the peak of 130,000 in 2010, are currently deployed in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is due to take over the leadership of its own security duties from the US and NATO forces by the end of 2014.