The Taliban has claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb on NATO forces in Kabul, which killed 12 civilians and six NATO soldiers.
Five of the dead soldiers were from the US. The interior ministry said at least 47 Afghan civilians were wounded.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said: 'We claim responsibility. The attack, which was a suicide car bomb, was carried out by one of our mujahedeen (holy warriors).'
The bomb was detonated in western Kabul during rush hour, close to an army recruitment centre and a hospital.
However, the Afghan interior ministry said NATO's International Security Assistance Force was the target.
Most of the casualties were people waiting for a bus on the busy road near an army base, a government ministry and the parliament.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said: 'A suicide bomber attacked NATO troops that inflicted casualties on both NATO and innocent civilians including women and schoolchildren.
'I condemn this attack on strongest terms and hope that Afghanistan one day gets rid of this.'
Today's bombing is the first major attack in Kabul since February when Taliban suicide bombers targeted guesthouses and killed 16 people.
