Blast In Afghan Capital Ahead Of President's Swearing In

Blast In Afghan Capital Ahead Of President's Swearing In
Afghan security forces inspect the site of a suicide attack near the International Airport of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. Two bomb attacks took place on the road connecting the country's main airport with the palace. One roadside bomb did not result in any deaths or injuries, but a second attack about a kilometer (half mile) from the airport by a suicide bomber killed several, police officer Abdul Latif said. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini
Afghan security forces inspect the site of a suicide attack near the International Airport of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. Two bomb attacks took place on the road connecting the country's main airport with the palace. One roadside bomb did not result in any deaths or injuries, but a second attack about a kilometer (half mile) from the airport by a suicide bomber killed several, police officer Abdul Latif said. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini

KABUL, Sept 29 (Reuters) - A suicide bomber attacked a security checkpoint near the airport in Afghanistan's capital on Monday, minutes before new President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in, a member of the security forces said.

There were casualties and a Reuters witness saw dead bodies at the scene. It was not clear how many people had been killed and wounded.

The attack came as dignitaries gathered in Kabul for Ghani's inauguration. He is taking over from longtime leader Hamid Karzai at a crucial time as foreign forces prepare to leave and the fight against Taliban militants intensifies. (Reporting by Kay Johnson; Editing by Robert Birsel)

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