Large blast strikes in center of Afghan capital

A large explosion rocked the center of Afghanistan's capital early Thursday, near the Indian Embassy and the Interior Ministry. Information on casualties was not immediately available.

Associated Press reporters heard the explosion in the morning and saw a plume of smoke rising from a site in downtown Kabul.

An AP reporter at the scene saw two sporty utility vehicles badly damaged, one of them labeled as a United Nations vehicle. The center of the blast appeared to be just outside the Indian embassy. Windows in surrounding shops were shattered.

Police officers on the site said they believed it was the work of a suicide bomber, but did not provide further details.

U.S. and NATO spokespeople said they did not yet have any information on the explosion.

The Afghan capital has been hit numerous times in recent months by suicide bombers and roadside bombs. The attacks usually target international military forces or government installations, but Afghan businesses and civilians are also often killed or injured.

In the most recent attack in mid-September, a suicide car bomber rammed into an Italian military convoy on a road leading to the airport. That blast killed six Italian soldiers and 10 Afghan civilians.