Three Germans traveling in a diplomatic convoy have been killed and one wounded in a roadside bomb blast near Kabul, the Afghan capital.

Zalmay Khan, a deputy police chief said that three German soldiers were killed in the attack, but the German defence ministry has denied that the casualties were soldiers.

The blast that hit the convoy turned one of the two vehicles onto its side.

The group was travelling on a road about 10km southeast of Kabul.

Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said it was aware of an explosion near a military base but did not know how many casualties there were.

Isaf also said the blast was caused by a land mine.

Amir Mohammad, a police officer, said it was not clear if the mine was recently planted or if it was an old one.

PHOTO CAPTION

German soldiers keep watch where a blast killed three German diplomats outside Kabul August 15, 2007. (Reuters)

Al-Jazeera