Afghan police stand guard among damaged buildings after a suicide attack in Ghazni Province
Afghan police stand guard among damaged buildings after a suicide attack in Ghazni Province Reuters

A bomb has destroyed a military vehicle in the diplomatic district of the Afghan capital Kabul, on the eve of the swearing-in of the country's new president.

The swearing-in ceremony, which is taking place after prolonged political turmoil, is due to be attended by several foreign dignitaries.

"At 09:15 this morning [4.45am GMT), a sticky bomb attached to an Afghan army vehicle exploded in Zanbag Square… only injuring the driver," Najib Danish, interior ministry spokesperson, told Reuters.

The blast, set off by a magnetic bomb, took place despite the heightened security measures due to the swearing-in ceremony.

President-elect Ashraf Ghani is set to be inaugurated as the new leader of the war-torn country following months of political wrangling in the wake of inconclusive election results.

Local authorities say the Taliban militants planted an improvised explosive device on a police vehicle.

The Afghan Taliban is pressing ahead with its insurgency in the country, as Afghanistan tries to establish a stable administration on the heels of the pullout of Nato troops.

In a separate attack, five police personnel were killed in an explosion in central Maidan Wardak province. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

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