Taliban suicide attack injures 22 in Kabul

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- A Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul injured 22 civilians Tuesday, with officials saying visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was not targeted.

Taliban spokesman Zabeehullah Mujahid told Kuwait's KUNA news agency the bomb targeted a NATO convoy traveling in the city. He said an Afghan citizen drove a bomb-filled van close to two NATO vehicles on the road leading to the Kabul International Airport.

NATO's press office confirmed the attack on the vehicles, but said no coalition troops were injured. However, a police source told the news agency there had been two civilian fatalities and 20 injured in the attack.

Gates made an unannounced stop in Kabul Monday night after a week in Iraq for talks Tuesday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai about security in the southern and southeastern parts of Afghanistan, KUNA said.