Rocket explodes by US Embassy in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan Dec. 4 — A rocket exploded in a field across the street from the U.S. Embassy in the Afghan capiptal late Thursday, the Afghan military said.

The blast occurred after U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and held a news conference with him at the Presidential Palace in another part of the city. But it was not known if Rumsfeld was still in Kabul when the explosion occurred.

No injuries were reported by the rocket, which hit about 300 yards from the embassy, said Kabul military commander Mohammed Ayub Salangi. Police and soldiers searched an Afghan military sports field, across the street from the embassy, where the explosion occurred.

Azmary, an Afghan policeman, and witness Zikira Arian said they saw a flash, heard an explosion and thought it must have been a rocket

An Associated Press information