A suicide car bomber attacked a US base in Kabul today wounding 14 people, including eight Americans.

The bombing was the latest attack to hit the city, coming just over a week after a team of Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers staged an assault that paralysed the city and left 12 people dead.

The violence has underscored fears that militants would try to stage attacks ahead of a key international conference on Afghanistan to be held on Thursday in London.

The bomber detonated a van packed with explosives near Camp Phoenix, an American base inside Kabul.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was targeting an international military convoy.

Meanwhile four Afghan policemen were killed overnight at a checkpoint near the Information and Cultural Affairs Ministry’s directorate in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province.

The southern area is expected to be a major focus of fighting with the influx of 37,000 additional US and Nato forces.

Taliban frequently target Afghan security forces and officials to undermine the Western-backed government, but authorities said it was not yet clear who killed the policemen.

In eastern Kunar province, a Nato airstrike killed several suspected insurgents who were manoeuvring into fighting position in an area previously used to stage attacks on international forces.

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11/03/2010: Miliband urges Kabul to pursue peaceful settlement
11/03/2010: Karzai wants Taliban commander extradited
07/03/2010: Karzai bombarded with complaints on 'meet the people' trip
07/03/2010: 50 dead in Taliban clashes
06/03/2010: British soldier shot dead in Afghanistan
06/03/2010: Afghan 'civilian surge' bogged down by red tape
01/03/2010: Four Nato troops killed in Afghanistan
27/02/2010: Afghanistan offensive 'going well' despite casualties
26/02/2010: Kabul suicide bombs kill 17
26/02/2010: At least ten dead in Kabul bomb attacks
25/02/2010: Taliban lose control of key stronghold
23/02/2010: Allied commander apologises for deadly airstrike
22/02/2010: Nato admits accidentally killing Afghan civilians
22/02/2010: Bomber kills Bin Laden's enemy
22/02/2010: Afghanistan: Civilians killed in Nato airstrike
21/02/2010: Dutch troops to withdraw from Afghanistan
21/02/2010: Karzai urges restraint
19/02/2010: Taliban commander's brother killed by US missile
19/02/2010: Taliban commander's son 'killed in missile strike'
19/02/2010: US Marines in reconnaissance mission behind Taliban lines
18/02/2010: Raids capture more Taliban leaders
18/02/2010: Two more top Taliban arrested
17/02/2010: Soldiers capture heart of Taliban stronghold
17/02/2010: Taliban 'using human shields' in assault
16/02/2010: Three civilians killed as Afghan assault continues
15/02/2010: Civilians killed in Kandahar airstrike
14/02/2010: Stray rocket attack kills civilians in Taliban stronghold
14/02/2010: Anti-Taliban offensive 'going to plan'
13/02/2010: British troops secure 'key objectives' in Afghanistan offensive
13/02/2010: Major attack on Taliban stronghold launched