DHAKA: A suicide bomber has blown himself up close to a bus carrying Afghan soldiers in the capital Kabul.

The incident happened in the south-east of the city. A Kabul police chief says there are casualties, including civilians, reports BBC.

The Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) news agency quotes eyewitnesses as saying they saw at least three bodies.

The Taliban have stepped up attacks ahead of the departure of Nato-led combat troops at the end of 2014.

Earlier this month a Taliban spokesman told the BBC the militants are "confident of victory" over Nato-led forces and already control large areas of the country.

BDST: 1026 HRS, JAN 26, 2014