Kabul hit by another suicide bomb

Afghan police estimated that the death toll might be as high as 15.

It is the second large suicide blast in the city since Saturday, when 30 soldiers were killed. The Taleban said they carried out both attacks.

More than 3,000 people have been killed this year as Afghan and foreign forces battle Taleban fighters.

Tuesday's attack was carried out early in the morning on a bus carrying policemen to work in the western part of the city.

However, the bus also contained the families of policemen, dropping their children to school. There were reports that as many as four of the dead were children.

Others were severely injured in the blast.

"Thirteen Afghans lost their lives - eight police and five civilians, including a mother and two of her children," Health Minister Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatemi told the AFP news agency.

"This was an anti-human act that scars the heart of every Afghan," said Mr Fatemi, after visiting the scene of the blast.

"I hope the Afghan nation never forgives the perpetrators. I believe God will never forgive them," he added.

'Destroying the country'

Eyewitnesses said the bomber tried to get onto a bus picking up policemen.

Police already on the vehicle were suspicious and shot him, after which the injured bomber blew himself up, causing casualties both on the bus and in the street.

The bomb ripped off the roof of the bus and blew out the sides.

A BBC reporter at the scene said body parts were scattered across a wide area.

On Saturday, an attack on a military vehicle killed up to 30 soldiers.

Responding to the attack, President Hamid Karzai said he wished he could ask insurgent leaders why they were trying to destroy the country.