It was the latest in a string of bold attacks on high-profile NATO targets in the past two weeks, following a Taliban announcement of a spring offensive against alliance and Afghan forces, which was in response to the Obama administration's vow to squeeze the militants out of Kandahar province strongholds.

The blast occurred around 11:30am in a parking lot used by Afghans visiting Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar city, said Gen. Shafiq Fazli, the police commander for southern Afghanistan. The base houses a few hundred Canadian soldiers, along with American military police and US and Canadian government employees working on development projects.

Fazli said no one was killed. A police officer said at least one security guard and one Afghan who works at the base were wounded.

Wednesday's blast destroyed 11 cars that were parked in the lot, along with about 50 motorcycles and more than a dozen bicycles, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

AP