(KUNA) -- Four soldiers of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were wounded when a suicide bomber targeted their convoy in eastern Afghanistan, officials said on Saturday. The blast took place in the Barmal district of Afghanistan's southeastern Paktika province. Governor of the province Dr Akram Khpalwak said the bomber was riding in a car packed with explosives. Khpalwak said the man exploded his car when a NATO convoy was at a distance of a few metres. As a result, four foreign soldiers suffered injuries; however, the official would not say about health condition of the soldiers. Mostly American forces are stationed in southeastern parts of Afghanistan.Meanwhile, spokesman for the coalition's Combined Joint Task Force - 76 Lt Colonel Paul Fitzpatrick said the foreign troops opened fire at the terrorist, who was approaching the convoy. He said the man in the suspected car was fatally injured in the firing and was confirmed dead in the blast. In the meantime, he exploded the car, which resulted in injuries to four soldiers.
The spokesman also rejected a Taliban claim regarding an attack on US military convoy in the eastern province of Kunar. Earlier, Taliban spokesman Dr Hanif said they had attacked a military convoy and killed and injured several soldiers. The attack was the first suicide blast in Afghanistan in the year 2007. More than 100 suicide attacks were registered during the year 2006, which was considered the bloodiest year since the ouster of Taliban in 2001.