Kabul  - A suicide bomber on Wednesday detonated his explosives-laden car close to an international military convoy in south-eastern Afghanistan and casualties were feared, officials said.

The attack took place in the Mandozai district of Khost province on the main highway linking the province with Kabul, said Shah Hemat, the district administrative chief.

He said the area was cordoned off by US forces and he could not say if there were casualties.

A police official in the province said thick smoke was coming from the attack site and a US helicopter was hovering in the area.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said a Taliban bomber named Salahuddin carried out the attack and killed 10 US soldiers.

A NATO spokesman in Kabul said the alliance was not aware of any attack. (dpa)