At least nine people died in a suicide bombing in Kabul on Saturday (March 9) as the U.S. defence secretary visited Afghanistan.
Officials said an insurgent on a motorbike blew himself up at the gates of the Defence Ministry.
Most of victims are believed to be civilians. Another fourteen people were wounded.
The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was a message for the visiting U.S. defence secretary.
Chuck Hagel arrived in Afghanistan on Friday (March 8) for his first foreign trip in his new post.
He's due meet President Hamid Karzai for talks ahead of the planned withdrawal of foreign troops.
Authorities say Hagel was nowhere near Saturday's explosion.
