KABUL - A suicide bomber driving a truck of firewood attacked a NATO base in central Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon, killing two civilians and injuring 77 foreign soldiers, NATO-led forces said, but none of the injuries were life-threateaning.

The alliance said in a statement that "less than 25" Afghan civilians, were also wounded in the bombing at a combat outpost in Wardak province, about 50 kms south of the capital Kabul. ?

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which came a day before ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks on the United States. ?

None of the injuries to Afghans or foreigners were life-threatening, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said, in a statement issued on Sunday.

"The majority of injured ISAF personnel will likely return to duties shortly," ISAF said in a statement.

Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said the truck was packed with explosives. "It was a huge blast and there are many casualties," he said. ?

In a statement emailed to media, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the truck used in the attack was packed with 9 tonnes of explosives and more than 100 foreign troops were killed or wounded.