Three explosions rock Kabul
 |
Security is tight for Afghanistan's loya jirga being held in Kabul.
Story Tools
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
|
Follow the news that matters to you. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in.
Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions.
|
|
(CNN) -- Three rockets exploded in downtown Kabul early Tuesday, but caused no casualties, officials say.
The first explosion occurred around 12:50 a.m. (8:20 p.m. Monday GMT) near Kabul's airport, which is near the U.S. Embassy and international peacekeeping headquarters, both of which have been targets of rocket attacks in the past, said a Financial Times correspondent who heard it.
It was followed about five minutes later by the second and third blasts, which occurred within a few seconds of each other, she said.
"No injuries to personnel or equipment reported," Major Christopher West at Bagram Airbase said. "Location is northwest of the airport near embassy area and where coalition forces are based. Investigation ongoing."
Officials from the International Security Assistance Force -- the international peacekeeping force based in Kabul -- said they had received no reports of injuries. They and police also said they were investigating.
Soon after the blasts, planes circled the city and witnesses said they saw what appeared to be flares dropping from the sky.
The explosions came a day after 500 delegates from the country's 32 provinces began meeting in the capital in a loya jirga or national assembly to discuss a draft constitution in the hopes of ratifying it as soon as possible. (Full story)
From their sounds and from accounts provided by senior security officials in Kabul, it did not appear that any of the explosions occurred near the tent where the loya jirga is being held.
Journalist Victoria Burnett contributed to this story.
