Seven killed in Kabul NATO blast

The blast outside the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) comes with security stepped up as Afghanistan prepares for presidential and provincial council elections on August 20.

"In the suicide attack today at 8:30 am by the enemies of Afghanistan in front of ISAF HQ entrance in Kabul, the number of the martyrs has increased to seven," an Afghan defence ministry statement said.

In an earlier statement, the ministry said 91 Afghans were wounded including female parliamentarian Hawa Alam Nuristani and four Afghan soldiers, it said in a statement.

Most of the injuries were superficial, including some caused by flying glass, officials said.

Five ISAF soldiers were wounded, a spokesman told AFP. He could not give their nationalities. ISAF draws together troops from 42 countries. None of the soldiers was in a life-threatening condition, the officer said.

The large ISAF base includes the living quarters and offices of General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander of more than 100,000 international troops in Afghanistan.

The explosion, also near the US embassy, was claimed by the Taliban militia which targets international and Afghan troops in its escalating insurgency.