Explosion rocks Afghan capital, leaving casualties: witnesses

KABUL - An explosion ripped through a busy road in western part of Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Wednesday, leaving casualties, witnesses said.

"The blast occurred near a Shiite mosque in Dasht-e-Barchi locality at around 09:00 a.m. local time. A thick black smoke was seen rise above the site," Mohammad Fahim, a witness, told Xinhua.

The apparent target of the blast was an Afghan parliament member's convoy passing-by the area, he said.

"At least one person was killed and four others injured by the blast. It is the initial information and more details would be made public later as investigation is going on into the incident," a police source told Xinhua near the site.

Security forces sealed off the scene, while ambulances and civilian cars evacuated the victims to the nearby hospitals, the witness said.

Local TV channels showed the damaged buildings and cars on the blast site.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.