Two explosions hit Afghan capital

18 August 2011 Last updated at 23:05 ET

Smoke could be seen rising over Kabul after the blasts

Two explosions have hit the Afghan capital, Kabul, near a compound run by the British government.

The first blast went off at 05:38 (01:08 GMT), with a second 10 minutes later; sporadic gunfire was also heard.

The British Council was the target of the attacks, a spokesman for the Nato-led force was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

Unconfirmed reports say there were casualties. The Taliban later said they carried out the attack.

The explosions were caused by suicide attacks, Kabul’s police chief Ayub Salangi told the AFP news agency.

“(There were) two explosions at the British Council but at this stage, we’re still gathering facts,” said Maj Jason Waggoner, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force, according to AFP.

Smoke can be seen rising from the area, the BBC’s Masoud Popalzai says.

The British Embassy in Kabul has so far made no comment.

Friday is a national holiday in Afghanistan, marking the country’s independence from Great Britain in 1919.

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