Afghanistan Suicide Attack Wounds More Than 20

Afghan officials say more than 20 people have been wounded in a suicide car bomb attack on a convoy of vehicles near a US-run NATO military base in Kabul

Afghan officials say more than 20 people have been wounded in a suicide car bomb attack on a convoy of vehicles near a U.S.-run NATO military base in Kabul.

NATO says nine of its soldiers and 10 civilian contractors were among those wounded. It says the rest of the casualties were bystanders, including several Afghans.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing Friday outside Camp Phoenix.

Several attacks have targeted international operations in the Afghan capital, Kabul, in recent months, including attacks on a U.N. guesthouse and the Indian embassy.

Also Friday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he is urging military allies to contribute more forces to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan. In an interview with the BBC, he expressed confidence that international partners could provide up to 5,000 additional troops.

Germany has pledged to send more than 100 extra soldiers to Afghanistan.

More than 4,000 German troops are in Afghanistan serving with NATO forces, with most based in the country's north.

German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said Thursday his country is committed to its mission in Afghanistan, but that it will not refrain from discussing the possibility of an exit strategy.

This year has been the deadliest for international troops in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban-led government in 2001.


Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.