KABUL, Aug 29 (Reuters) - An explosion hit a bank in an area of the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday close to the heavily protected U.S. embassy compound, officials said.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the blast occured at the entrance to a Kabul Bank branch, not far from the embassy. There was no immediate word on casualties. (Reporting by Mirwais Harooni, Hamid Shalizi; Editing by Nick Macfie)