At least four people killed and others wounded in bombing of Ministry of Defense vehicle claimed by Taliban.

A Taliban suicide bomber killed at least four people in Kabul in an attack on a Ministry of Defense bus, officials said, confirming three people in the vehicle and a woman bystander had died.

At least nine people were wounded in the attack in the southeast of the city early on Saturday.

"The bomber was on foot when he detonated himself next to a bus carrying Ministry of Defense staff to work," interior ministry spokesman Seddiq Seddiqi told AFP.

"Initial reports from the police say that three people in the bus were killed and one female bystander."

Early reports said the attack targeted soldiers.

A Taliban spokesman using a recognized Twitter account said his group carried out the attack.

The bombing was the first major attack in the Afghan capital since Taliban fighters launched a suicide attack on January 17 at a popular restaurant killing 21 people, Afghans and foreigners alike.

PHOTO CAPTION

Map of Afghanistan locating Kabul

Al-Jazeera