Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said a suicide attacker had detonated a vehicle.

Dozens are reported injured. Gunfire can still be heard in the area.

A Taliban spokesman told AP the group was responsible a week after it said it was launching its "spring offensive". It had warned of "large-scale attacks".

Tuesday's blast happened in a residential neighbourhood close to the ministry of defence and military compounds.

Mr Ghani condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms".

-BBC