Lieutenant Colonel Angela Billings, a spokeswoman for the International Security Assistance Force, tells RFE/RL that "a number of Afghan and military personnel" were killed in the attack, which happened around 1030 local time:"Initial reports indicate that four people were killed in the blast, including the suicide bomber. Approximately 23 people were injured in the attack and are being treated at Bagram Medical Facility. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time."

The U.S. military says one U.S. soldier was killed in the blast. South Korea has confirmed that one of its soldiers died.

Afghan officials put the death toll much higher, saying about 18 people were killed, most of them Afghan civilians lingering at a crowded market just outside the front gates of the base.

Cheney's spokeswoman says the vice president was far from the blast and was not injured. Cheney is in Afghanistan for talks with President Hamid Karzai.

Reuters quotes a purported Taliban spokesman (Mullah Hayat Khan) as claiming the Taliban was targeting Cheney in the attack.