(15 Aug 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Various of large plume of smoke over Kabul skyline
2. Various of military, firefighters and police near scene of explosion, smoke rising in background AUDIO: sirens
3. Various of fire being hosed down behind barrier AUDIO: sirens
4. Wide of blast scene
5. Firefighters at the blast scene
6. Armed soldiers
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Brigadier Eric Tremblay, ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) spokesperson:
"At 0835 (04:05GMT) hours this morning a vehicle operated improvised explosive devices or suicide bomber in a vehicle detonated himself about 30 metres very close to the ISAF compound. The Afghan national security forces were able to stop the vehicle and upon the vehicle stopping the bombers decided to detonate themselves. The Taliban have just claimed responsibility for the incidents."
8. Armed soldiers
9. Various of damage to building with smashed windows
10. Various of soldiers at the blast scene
11. Wide of damaged cars
12. Various shots inside ward at Wazir Akbar Khan hospital, wounded in explosion receiving treatment
13. SOUNDBITE: (Dari) Abdul Fahim, wounded in explosion:
"I was drinking tea in our office when a big explosion happened. I laid down then I saw wounded victims everywhere, including police and civilians. I got injured and they brought me to hospital."
14. Tilt up from injured leg to Fahim's face
15. Wide of injured elderly man
16. Injured man with bloodied clothing on hospital stretcher
17. Exterior of hospital
STORYLINE
A suicide car bomb exploded near the main gate of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) led international military mission on Saturday, killing four Afghans and wounding at least 90, police officials said.
The Taliban immediately claimed responsibility.
The pinpoint attack penetrated a heavily guarded neighbourhood that also houses the US Embassy and Afghan presidential palace just five days before Afghanistan's nationwide elections.
Bloodied and dazed Afghans wandered the street after the blast, and children - many of whom congregate outside the NATO gate to sell gum to Westerners - were among the wounded.
Windows of nearby antique shops were shattered and blood smeared the ground.
A spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defence, said three Afghan civilians were killed and 70 wounded in the blast.
A top police official later said that 91 had been wounded.
ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) spokesperson Brigadier Eric Tremblay said the bomb was detonated at 08:35 local time (04:05 GMT).
"(A) suicide bomber in a vehicle detonated himself about 30 metres very close to the ISAF compound. The Afghan national security forces were able to stop the vehicle and upon the vehicle stopping the bombers decided to detonate themselves," he told the media.
Abdul Fahim, an Afghan in his mid-20s who sustained leg injuries said he was drinking tea in his office when the explosion occurred.
"I lay on the ground and then I saw wounded victims everywhere, including police and civilians," he added.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the blast and said the bomb contained 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms) of explosives.
Mujahid at first said the bomber was on foot, then later called back and said it was a suicide car bomb attack.
NATO headquarters has several large, cement blocks and steel gates that prevent anyone from reaching the entrance, and the bomber was not able to breach those barriers.
Afghanistan's Transportation Ministry lies across the street from NATO headquarters.
Afghanistan has braced for attacks because of the vote.
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