A massive car bomb explosion in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar has killed at least 40 people.

阿富汗南部城市坎大哈发生汽车炸弹爆炸事件，造成至少40人丧生。

More than 60 people were also hurt as buildings collapsed¹ in the attack in the centre of the city, doctors said.

The explosion took place shortly after the first results were announced in the presidential election.

Earlier a bomb killed four US soldiers, making 2009 the deadliest year for foreign troops since the US-led invasion overthrew²（打翻） the Taliban.

A British soldier also died from wounds suffered in an explosion near Sangin in Helmand province on 15 August, the Ministry³ of defence said.

Election attacks

No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack in Kandahar, which is a stronghold of the Taliban. There have been a number of attacks in the city this year.

Some reports said bombs were packed in cars that exploded simultaneously⁴, others that a truck or tanker⁵ was used.

The explosion struck close to the offices of the Kandahar provincial⁶ council, trapping people under rubble⁷（粗石）.

Windows across the city were shattered by the force of the blast.

The area has several hotels and offices of non-governmental organisations.

A wedding hall was one of the buildings damaged, along with the headquarters of a Japanese construction company.

Afghans are currently observing the Muslim month of Ramadan and the explosion took place soon after dusk as they broke their fast.

Agha Lalai, a member of the Kandahar provincial council, told AFP news agency: "It felt like an earthquake. The power went off and there was a huge explosion. Police have cordoned⁸ off（用警戒线隔离） the area and are busy with the wounded."

Deputy provincial police chief Mohammad Sher Shah told the Associated Press news agency: "Once again they've killed children, women, innocent Afghans. They are not human. They are animals. You can see for yourself the destruction of this enemy."

There have been a series of insurgent⁹（叛乱分子） attacks across the country as Afghanistan held its presidential election.

The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said there were more than 400 attacks on election day alone, last Thursday.

The four US soldiers who died were killed "while patrolling in one of the most violent areas of Afghanistan", Nato spokesman Brig Gen Eric Tremblay said, without giving an exact location.

The deaths brought the number of foreign forces killed in Afghanistan in 2009 to 295.

The previous deadliest year was 2008, when 294 military personnel died.

More than 30,000 extra US troops have been sent to Afghanistan since President Barack Obama ordered reinforcements in May, almost doubling his country's contingent¹⁰（偶然的事情，分遣队） and increasing the Western total to about 100,000.

The first results in the presidential poll, announced on Tuesday, gave incumbent¹¹（领圣职俸禄的牧师，在职者） Hamid Karzai a slender lead over former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, by 40.6% to 38.7%.

Only 10% of votes have been counted.