An Afghan looks at a damaged vehicle at the site of blast in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Nov. 27, 2008. Suicide car bombing suspected of targeting the convoy of international troops Thursday morning near the U.S. embassy killed at least four and injured 16 others, officials said. (Xinhua/Zabi Tamanna) Photo Gallery>>>

    KABUL, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Suicide car bombing suspected of targeting convoy of international troops Thursday morning near U.S. embassy in Afghan capital Kabul killed at least four and injured 16 others, officials said.

    "It occurred at around 8:30 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) when a suicide bomber driving a car laden with explosive material detonated himself some 100 meters from the U.S. embassy, " said Alishah Paktiawal, police chief of Kabul, told newsmen on the spot.

Afghan soldiers stand guard near a damaged vehicle at the site of blast in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Nov. 27, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Paktiawal confirmed that four people were killed in the blast so far but he did not specify the status of victims just saying the number of casualties is going to increase.

    Zemarai Bashary, Interior Ministry spokesman, told the media that the suicide bomber blew himself off as a convoy of foreign forces was passing by.

    Strong blast also damaged some buildings alongside and glass of windows were shattering on the ground.

Afghan police stand next to the body of a suicide bomber at the site of blast in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Nov. 27, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Meanwhile, local private Tolo put the number of wounded as high as 16.

    Earlier, an official in the Interior Ministry declining to be named told Xinhua that the explosion happened close to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) compound and some Afghan ministerial buildings.

    The body of the attacker was still lying on the spot, the official said.

    Zabihullah Mujahed, the purported Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility, saying one suicide bomber from Kabul committed the attack against international troops.

    Spiraling conflicts and Taliban-linked insurgency have claimed around 5,000 people with some 2,000 civilians so far this year in strife-torn Afghanistan while Taliban insurgents have vowed to intensify assaults against interests of Afghan government and international troops before the coming winter.