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US Afghan base on red alert
27/02/2007 09:36 - (SA)
Bagram, Afghanistan - An explosion claimed by the Taliban outside the main US military base in Afghanistan killed 19 people and wounded 11 during a visit by US vice-president Dick Cheney on Tuesday, though he was apparently not in danger, US and Afghan officials said.
The blast happened near the first security gate outside the base at Bagram, killing 19 people, said Khoja Mohammad Qasim Sayedi, chief of the province's public health department. Governor Abdul Jabar Taqwa said "18 to 20 dead bodies" lay on the ground after the blast.
Major William Mitchell said it did not appear the explosion was intended as a threat to the vice-president. "He wasn't near the site of the explosion," Mitchell said. "He was safely within the base at the time of the explosion."
Mitchell said it appeared there were casualties from the blast, but he didn't immediately know how many.
Reports said the Taliban had claimed responsibility for the suicide blast.
Ajmall, a shopkeeper in the market outside the base, called the blast "huge", and said it shook the small market area. Ajmall, who goes by one name, estimated that 20 to 30 people were killed or wounded and said some of the casualties were taken inside the US base for treatment.
Cheney, who spent the night at Bagram, left the base about 90 minutes after the 10:00 blast.
The explosion sent up a plume of smoke visible by reporters inside the base travelling with Cheney, and American military officials declared a "red alert" inside the base.
"The vice-president is fine" said his spokesperson, Lea Anne McBride.
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