KABUL, Dec. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- A bomb exploded early Thursday near the presidential palace in the Afghan capital, badly damaging a United Nations guest-house, but causing no casualties, police said.

    The blast occurred around 4:50 am local time at the guest-house,about 200 meters east of the palace in downtown Kabul, Kabul police chief Baba Jan told reporters on the site. Enditem