Dozens of people have been killed or wounded. The US vice-president is unharmed. The Taliban have launched their spring offensive.

Bagram (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Dozens of Afghans have been killed and many wounded in a suicide attack at the entrance of an American base in Bagram where US vice-president Dick Cheney is staying. A Pakistani news agency says 20 people were killed and dozens wounded. The second top US leader was in the base and was not injured. Cheney stayed overnight at the base, waiting to meet Hamid Karzai. The meeting should have been held yesterday but was postponed because of bad weather.

Bagram base is 60km north of Kabul and the main gates are some distance from offices and living quarters. An Afghan official said the explosion occurred inside a container. Some containers are used as small shops in a market lining the road to the base.

Cheney was in the region on an unannounced visit. In recent days he has been in Pakistan, asking President Musharraf for more commitment to stop the Taliban.

After a winter break, the Taliban have launched their spring offensive by stepping up suicide attacks. Last year, more than 4,000 people – one-fourth of them civilians – were killed in attacks and clashes.

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