Blast near US embassy in Kabul

The blast shattered windows in the area

An explosion has damaged an apartment block near the US embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Soldiers of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) who police Kabul rushed to the scene.

One report said two people had been injured as the shockwave shattered glass in the apartment buildings.

The blast, just after 2100 (1630 GMT), was located about half a kilometre from the US embassy. It came ahead of a visit by US Defence Undersecretary Douglas Feith.

"I think the aim was the American embassy or the military intelligence directorate," said Kabul security commander Basir Salangi.

The city was rocked by a huge car bomb on 5 September which killed at least 26 people and injured scores more.

The car bomb was the most serious explosion in Kabul since the fall of the Taleban in November 2001.

The government blamed the ousted Taleban regime and their al-Qaeda allies although no proof was produced.