Blast in Afghan capital kills 1 civilian

By S. K. Khan

ISLAMABAD (AA) - The Taliban said a civilian was killed and two others injured in a blast in a passenger mini-bus in the Afghan capital Kabul's Shia-dominated western quarter on Saturday.

A spokesman for the Taliban's interim government in Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, has confirmed the incident. He said in a statement that at least one civilian was killed and two others injured in an "apparent incident of fire" that broke out in a passenger mini-bus in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul's 18th district late Saturday.

According to the local daily Etilaatroz, the incident took place during the evening rush hour in the Golai area of Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood inhabited mostly by the Shia Hazara community members.

An investigation is underway into the cause and impact of the incident, he added.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.