After the attack angry drivers blocked a major highway to demand reimbursement for their losses. Hundreds of other drivers stood by helplessly Saturday morning, unable to salvage any property as flames and smoke rose from the area and several fire engines rushed to the site.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the militants were targeting fuel tankers belonging to NATO forces.

The attackers were dressed in uniforms we couldn't understand what was happening. They were shooting toward the drivers and they were setting the tankers on fire,one of the drivers said.

Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said about 400 trucks caught fire late Friday and continued to burn through Saturday morning, but he did not confirm the cause or provide other details. The Interior Ministry said it has set up a team to investigate the incident.

Truck drivers later blocked the main highway between Kabul and the southern city of Kandahar to protest what they said was a slow response by the government and to demand reimbursement for their losses.

RA/SHI