A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle outside a US military base in south-eastern Afghanistan on Monday, killing nine civilians and wounding 13 others, officials said.
The bomber attacked outside a compound in Khost province, killing nine labourers who were standing in line for a security check to enter the base, provincial governor Arsala Jamal told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
He said 13 other labourers were wounded in the attack, and police shot and killed two would-be suicide bombers riding in another explosive-packed vehicle near the base.
"The explosion did not penetrate the base's perimeter," a US military statement said.
US forces assisted in taking the wounded to the base hospital, it said, but did not say if there were any troop casualties.
"This bombing is another example of the brutality and the lack of regard the enemy shows to the Afghan people," US spokesman Rumi Nielson-Green said.