Bomber hits US base in Kabul

The bomber detonated a minivan packed with explosives near Camp Phoenix, an American base inside Kabul, wounding at least six Afghan civilians, said Jamil Jumbish, the head of Afghanistan’s criminal investigation unit.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was targeting an international military convoy, according to a text message to the Associated Press from a phone number commonly used by the militant group.

NATO forces confirmed a car bomb struck outside the main gate of Camp Phoenix, saying it was aimed at a civilian convoy that was entering the controlled checkpoint.

Eight American service members suffered minor injuries, according to a statement.

Four Afghan policemen were killed overnight at a checkpoint near the Information and Cultural Affairs Ministry’s directorate in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province. The southern area is expected to be a major focus of fighting with the influx of 37,000 additional US and NATO forces.

Taliban militants frequently target Afghan security forces and officials to undermine the US-backed government, but authorities said it was not yet clear who killed the policemen.

Daoud Ahmadi, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said the officers apparently had visitors and an investigation was underway into whether the attack was political or personal.

In eastern Kunar Province, a NATO air strike killed several suspected insurgents who were maneuvering into fighting position in an area previously used to stage attacks on international forces, the coalition said in a statement.

A spokeswoman, Major Virginia McCabe, said five to 10 militants were killed.

President Hamid Karzai said yesterday that the London conference offers a major opportunity for his government to present its plans for reconciliation in an effort to drain the insurgency of support.

Karzai spoke yesterday in Turkey after a meeting of nations that seek to help Afghanistan emerge from instability with aid, trade, training, and political support. Delegates included Foreign Secretary David Miliband of Britain; Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi of China; and President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan.