1st LD: Powerful explosion rocks Afghan capital

A powerful explosion rocked the central part of Kabul on Tuesday, with casualties feared, witness and sources said.

"The huge blast took place at 08:50 a.m. (0420 GMT) in Pul-e-Mahmood Khan locality, causing panic among the residents" witness Mohammd Safa told Xinhua.

Several warning shots were fired by the security forces after the blast.

The area had been cordoned off for precautionary measures, he said.

A thick black smoke was seen rising above the site.

"We still cannot provide details on causalities. There is fear of possible causalities as the attack occurred in the morning rush hour," a security source told Xinhua.

"The nature of the blast seemed like a suicide truck bombing and the obvious target of the attack may have been a building belonged to the Afghan national intelligence office. So far, we have no more details, but we will try to get more information," he said anonymously.

Ambulances and fire trucks were rushing to the site where many government offices are located.

The blast also shattered windows of dozens of buildings near the site.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Endit