The suicide bomber rammed his explosives-filled car into two Italian Lynx armoured vehicles, killing paratroopers from the elite Thunderbolt regiment and wounding four others.The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which also killed 10 Afghan civilians and wounded around 50 others.
It was the latest reminder that even heavily guarded central Kabul is vulnerable to insurgent attacks as the Taliban take the fight beyond their stronghold in southern Afghanistan.
It took place on a road between the American embassy and the airport, a short distance from the diplomatic enclave housing many Western missions, including the British embassy.
The Afghan capital has been hit several times in the past two months. Last week, a Taliban suicide bomber blew up a car outside the main gate of a military base used by Nato troops inside Kabul's airport.
In August, a suicide car bomber struck outside the main Nato headquarters in the diplomatic district.
The latest bombing was the deadliest for the Italian contingent in the five years that they have been in Afghanistan, and the highest toll suffered by Italian forces since a bombing in Iraq killed 19 personnel in 2003.
Ignazio La Russa, defence minister, said the deaths would not deter Italy's commitment to being in Afghanistan.
"These cowardly killers will not stop us," he said.
Silvio Berlusconi, said the soldiers died "supporting democracy and freedom in this unfortunate country". The deaths brought to 21 the number of Italian troops who have died in Afghanistan, 16 in combat and six from other causes.
Italy sent an additional 500 soldiers to Afghanistan to help with security for last month's elections, bringing its overall strength to 3,200 – the sixth largest contingent.
There is broad bipartisan support for the Italian mission in Afghanistan, and no time frame for withdrawal.
The interior minister, Roberto Maroni, said withdrawal would be "giving into terrorism." But public support for the war in Iraq quickly ebbed away after the 2003 bombing.
A spokesman for the Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI was praying for the victims and their families.
Italian sports authorities said major sporting fixtures, such as this weekend's Series A soccer matches, would observe a minute's silence in honour of the dead soldiers.
It took place on a road between the American embassy and the airport, a short distance from the diplomatic enclave housing many Western missions, including the British embassy.
The Afghan capital has been hit several times in the past two months. Last week, a Taliban suicide bomber blew up a car outside the main gate of a military base used by Nato troops inside Kabul's airport.
In August, a suicide car bomber struck outside the main Nato headquarters in the diplomatic district.
The latest bombing was the deadliest for the Italian contingent in the five years that they have been in Afghanistan, and the highest toll suffered by Italian forces since a bombing in Iraq killed 19 personnel in 2003.
Ignazio La Russa, defence minister, said the deaths would not deter Italy's commitment to being in Afghanistan.
"These cowardly killers will not stop us," he said.
Silvio Berlusconi, said the soldiers died "supporting democracy and freedom in this unfortunate country". The deaths brought to 21 the number of Italian troops who have died in Afghanistan, 16 in combat and six from other causes.
Italy sent an additional 500 soldiers to Afghanistan to help with security for last month's elections, bringing its overall strength to 3,200 – the sixth largest contingent.
There is broad bipartisan support for the Italian mission in Afghanistan, and no time frame for withdrawal.
The interior minister, Roberto Maroni, said withdrawal would be "giving into terrorism." But public support for the war in Iraq quickly ebbed away after the 2003 bombing.
A spokesman for the Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI was praying for the victims and their families.
Italian sports authorities said major sporting fixtures, such as this weekend's Series A soccer matches, would observe a minute's silence in honour of the dead soldiers.
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