Remnants of Afghanistan's ousted Taliban have claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Kabul that killed five security officials and two bombers.
Sunday's attack was the worst in Kabul since June, when four German peacekeepers were killed and 31 wounded by a suicide car bomb, and coincided with the final stages of an increasingly acrimonious debate to finalise a post-Taliban constitution.
Now in its third week, the constitutional Loya Jirga, or Grand Assembly, is being watched closely by President Hamid Karzai's backers in the West, but progress has been slow because of complaints that the process is being rushed.
Taliban guerrillas and Islamic militant allies believed to include members of al-Qaeda have declared a holy war on foreign forces in Afghanistan and their local partners, and earlier threatened delegates at the Loya Jirga with death.
"A group of 200 mujahideen [holy warriors] has penetrated various Afghan cities," said a Taliban commander in southern Afghanistan.
"In Kabul alone, 130 trained Taliban are present on suicide missions," he added, speaking by satellite telephone. "They can manufacture powerful bombs with limited resources."