US embassy compound in Afghanistan hit by rocket fire

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul was hit by indirect fire before dawn on Christmas Day, but no Americans were hurt. But attacks elsewhere in Afghanistan killed at least six people Wednesday, officials said, underlining Afghanistan's continuing security problems.

"At approximately 6:40 local time in Kabul, approximately two rounds of indirect fire impacted the U.S. Embassy compound," a statement from the embassy said. "All Americans are accounted for and no injuries were sustained.

"The Embassy continues to investigate the attack."

Another rocket landed near a hill where former kings and members of the old royal family are buried in a large mausoleum, a spokesman for the National Directorate of Security told the AFP news agency.

"One impacted near Maranjan hill, about one mile from the presidential palace. There are no reported casualties," Lutfullah Mashal said.

The Taliban, which has been fighting Afghanistan's United States-backed government since being ousted from power in 2001, promptly claimed that they fired four rockets at the American Embassy on Wednesday, and said they inflicted heavy casualties. But the armed group often exaggerates its claims.

Elsewhere, an Afghan official said a bicycle bomb was remotely detonated in front of a restaurant at a bazaar in Puli Alam, the capital of Logar province, 37 miles east of Kabul, killing six people and wounding 13.

Two of the killed were policemen and four were civilians, said Abdul Wali Tofan, the deputy police chief in Logar province. He said the attack also wounded 13 civilians, including several children.

Earlier in the day, in a text message to AFP, the Taliban claimed to have caused heavy casualties.

"Today at around 6am four rockets were fired at the U.S. embassy in Kabul. All hit the target (causing) heavy casualties," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in the message.

Rocket attacks in Kabul have been rare in recent years, but the armed group has vowed to step up pressure on the U.S. and Afghan authorities before next year's presidential election and the withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO combat forces toward the end of the year.

Al Jazeera and wire services