Video

A suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into a bus carrying Afghan soldiers in the capital Kabul. MOREINFO: The attack happened during the morning rush hour on a road in in the southwestern part of the city. Several civilians were among the dead. It was the second such suicide bombing in Kabul since Tuesday, when a Nato convoy was targeted close the main airport. That attack wounded more than 20 Afghans and coincided with a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to assess the rising violence. Gates again called on NATO partners in Afghanistan to dedicate more resources to the war effort. Afghan military officials say they need more training and equipment to fight the Taliban insurgency. SCRIPT: Buses carrying Afghan security forces have become a favourite target for Taliban suicide bombers. Eyewitnesses said a Toyota Corolla was rammed into an Afghan army bus as it drove through a Kabul suburb. At least six soldiers were killed along with several civilians. It was the height of the morning rush hour and the market stalls lining the road were already packed with shoppers. (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) GULL PADSHAH, A WOUNDED RESIDENT, SAYING:" I was sitting near my cart, talking with two boys near me and we were all laughing, suddenly I heard a bang, I don't know what happened and I found myself here." It was the second such suicide attack in as many days. On Tuesday, more than 20 Afghan civilians were wounded when a bomber targeted a NATO convoy as it passed near Kabul airport. The Taliban said it carried out the attack to "welcome" US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was in the Afghan capital to assess the rising violence. Bloodshed has sharply risen over the past two years in Afghanistan. The country's top military official told the Pentagon chief that his forces needed more training and equipment to fight the growing Taliban insurgency. America wants more nations to help fight the Islamist rebels. The US is frustrated that its existing NATO partners in Afghanistan aren't dedicating more resources to the war effort which the Pentagon says is needed to defeat the Taliban. Helen Long, Reuters