BBC News Online: World: South Asia

Bomb 'targeted' Taleban minister

At least five people were killed and about 12 wounded when the powerful bomb went off on a busy street in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The bomb had been placed in a taxi and was triggered by a remote-controlled device.

"He is slightly wounded on the face by the shattered front window of the car, but has received no shrapnel," Information Minister Qudratullah Jamal told journalists.

Mr Muttaqi survived an earlier attempt on his life in 1999 when a bomb planted in his car went off just before he boarded it.

His driver was killed in that attack but he was unhurt.

Opposition blamed

An official at the scene of the blast blamed anti-Taleban groups for the blast.

"This is a job of the opposition,'' said Mullah Abdul Nafi. ''They once again committed a cowardly act. The people will never forgive them.''

The Afghan opposition denied the charge, saying the bomb blast was a result of internal differences within the Taleban.

Several Taleban fighters were among the wounded.

The bomb also set several cars ablaze and damaged nearby houses in the western district of Karte Parwan.

Bombings

There have been a series of bombings in Kabul in recent months.

Many of the explosions have taken place near the Pakistan Embassy or its ambassador's residence.

No one has been seriously hurt in any of the earlier explosions.

Last year, the Taleban publicly hanged four people accused of carrying out a string of bomb attacks in the capital.