Car bombing hits coalition forces base in S. Afghanistan

Casualties were feared as a car bombing went off Monday morning close to a NATO- led coalition military base in Zharay district of southern Afghan province of Kandahar, sources said.

"The blast happened at around 11:00 a.m. (local time) close the base which is located in Zharay District of Kandahar," the security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Meantime, a coalition spokesperson told Xinhua that the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) coalition force was aware of the incident.

"Right now, we are aware of a suicide vehicle-born IED ( improvised explosive device) attack on an ISAF base in southern Afghanistan," the spokeswoman told Xinhua via cell phone.

She said "we are still gathering information" about the incident, adding details will be released as appropriate.

The local source also said an exchange of fire followed the blast in the province 450 km south of the country's capital Kabul.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban insurgent group was likely behind such attacks.