5 killed in car bomb near military base in E. Afghan province

Five people were killed and eight others wounded in a suicide car bombing in Afghanistan's city of Khost, capital of eastern Khost province on Monday, police said.
"The bomber struck a security checkpoint outside Chapman Camp, a foreign military base on outskirts of city at midday, killing himself and four Afghan security guards manning the checkpoint," provincial police chief, Gen. Faizullah Ghairat, told Xinhua.
Among the injured were six local security guards and two women who sustained injuries in nearby houses.
No foreign soldier was hurt by the blast which also damaged buildings and shops around, he said.
Taliban militants have claimed responsibility for the attack.
Earlier on April 1, three security forces were killed and six school children wounded after a suicide car bomb targeted a military convoy in Khost, 150 km southeast of Kabul.
Monday's attack occurred hours after U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis arrived in the country for an unannounced visit.
Earlier on Monday, Mattis visited headquarters of the NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) in Kabul where he met with RS Commander Gen. John Nicholson and discussed the security situation, the RS forces twitted.
He is also expected to hold meetings with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other Afghan leaders.

Source: Xinhua