Explosions in Kabul as Barack Obama visits capital

Kabul woke to explosions and gunfire after Mr Obama had completed his visit to sign a 10 year strategic pact with Hamid Karzai guaranteeing support to Afghanistan after most Nato troops leave. At least one suicide car bomber struck Green Village, a high-security compound on Jalalabad road to the east of the city, soon after 6am. The first blast was followed by gunfire and more explosions as police said they were battling at least two attackers at the compound. Gen Ayub Salangi, Kabul’s police chief said four civilians in a passing car, a school student and a compound guard were killed and up to 17 more people were wounded. A spokesman for the Taliban insurgency claimed responsibility for the attack. The first claim made no mention of Mr Obama’s visit, but a later claim said it was in protest at the agreement and to show the American president was “not welcome”.