United States Vice President Dick Cheney was unhurt when a military base in Afghanistan was attacked on Tuesday morning.
At least 19 people, including a U.S. soldier, were killed in the assault on the Bagram air base in Afghanistan, where Cheney was visiting. Bagram is located nearly 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of the Afghani capital, Kabul.
The incident, described as a suicide bombing, occurred at the entrance to the base, which was subsequently put on high alert.
The Taliban assumed responsibility for the attack.
Cheney is visiting Afghanistan and the neighboring Pakistan in a bid to improve the security along their border and prevent an upsurge of Taliban attacks.
Shortly after the blast Cheney left the base and headed for the capital for talks with Afghani President Hamid Karazai.
As the weather gets warmer, U.S. forces are concerned the Taliban is planning a spring offensive in the country.