Powerful explosion near US embassy in Kabul—witnesses

KABUL — A powerful explosion which went off outside the Supreme Court and near the US embassy rocked the Afghan capital Kabul Tuesday, witnesses said.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties from the blast on the main road to the international airport. Witnesses told AFP they saw the wreckage of a car and buses with windows smashed.

On Monday seven Taliban insurgents were killed after launching a gun and grenade attack on military buildings near the airport’s perimeter fence.

The response from Afghan security forces was widely praised as a sign of their growing professionalism as they take over responsibility from 100,000 US-led foreign combat troops who will pull out by the end of next year.

Kabul also came under attack on May 24, when Taliban militants launched a coordinated suicide and gun assault on a compound of the International Organization for Migration.

A policeman, two civilians and all four militants died in that attack, and Afghan security forces won credit for an effective response.

Originally posted @ 8:39 p.m.