Washington, Dec 31 - Eight Americans were killed Wednesday in an attack in a military base in eastern Afghanistan, the US State Department said.

Spokesman Ian Kelly did not provide details in the brief statement released by the department. CNN, citing a US military official and an official at the embassy in Kabul, reported the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest.

A US military spokesman at Central Command in Tampa, Florida, confirmed there was an explosion at Forward Operating Base Chapman. None of those killed were military personnel, the spokesman said. (dpa)