A suicide car bomb attack near the U.S. Embassy in Kabul has killed at least 4 people and wounded 18 others. The mid-morning blast appeared to target a convoy of foreign troops at a busy traffic circle. The U.S. Embassy was hosting a foot-race for the Thanksgiving holiday, and some foreigners were arriving at the time of the explosion.  VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from the Afghan capital.

Afghan policeman near site of explosion in Kabul, 27 Nov 2008

Witnesses at Kabul's landmark Massoud traffic circle said the bomber was driving erratically as he neared a convoy of foreign troops.  

This man says he was standing near the road, when the bomber almost hit him. He says the driver then hit three other cars and exploded.

The Massoud traffic circle is a busy intersection in an upscale area of Kabul that contains foreign missions, international organizations and news agencies.

The U.S. Embassy is located about 200 meters away, behind two heavily fortified checkpoints. The embassy was hosting a Thanksgiving Holiday foot-race and some foreigners were arriving at the time of the explosion.

Interior Ministry spokesman Zamary Bashary says officials believe the attacker was targeting the convoy of international troops.

"Prior to reaching the convoy, the bomber who was sitting in a small vehicle, detonated the bombs that were in the car and as a result of that unfortunately, a number of civilians were killed and a number were injured," said Bashary.

One bystander said most of the victims were city sanitation workers.

President Hamid Karzai condemned the blast, saying Afghans are fed up with such attacks after 30 years of invasions and terrorism.
 
Foreigners in Kabul have been targeted in a string of recent kidnappings and shootings. The city's last suicide attack occurred nearly a month ago at the Afghan Culture Ministry, when three militants stormed the building, killing five people.