Suicide bomber kills three NATO troops in Kabul

Reuters, Kabul : A suicide car bomber killed at least three foreign troops in an attack on a convoy near the US embassy in Kabul on Tuesday, the NATO-led coalition said, one of the worst attacks on international forces in the Afghan capital in months.The attack near the heavily fortified embassy comes amid a months-long political stalemate and an emboldened insurgency, with a presidential election still unresolved as most foreign combat troops prepare to leave by the end of the year.The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on the main road leading to Kabul’s international airport, not far from the sprawling US embassy compound that is also home to other members of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) coalition.ISAF said in a short statement three of its troops had been killed and that it was investigating the incident. The coalition recalled an earlier statement that said four troops had been killed. At least five were wounded.There was no immediate word on any Afghan casualties.Afghan Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Ayub Salangi said on Twitter a suicide car bomber had targeted a convoy of vehicles carrying foreign troops.In a text message sent to journalists, a Taliban spokesman said the suicide bomber, identified only as Bilal, had been lying in wait for foreign troops in a car packed with explosives.The blast tore through cars and shattered shop windows on the road a few hundred meters from the main embassy gate.A Reuters photographer said he saw coalition troops carrying four bodies wrapped in black plastic back into their base.Another Reuters witness reported seeing the body of one foreigner in a uniform lying on the ground while other coalition troops cordoned off the area and rushed to help the wounded.