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Afghan Taliban attack central Kabul Afghan Taliban battle police in central Kabul
(about 2 hours later)
Afghan security forces have been battling insurgents in the centre of the capital, Kabul, after the Taliban said it had launched an attack. Afghan security forces have battled Taliban insurgents for hours in the centre of Kabul, after a major explosion shook the city.
A large explosion was followed by several hours of gunfire. A Nepali guard and an off-duty policeman were killed, along with several militants. A Nepali guard and an off-duty policeman were killed, along with a number of militants.
A guesthouse used by the International Organization for Migration was hit, and one of their employees badly injured. The attack hit a guesthouse used by the International Organization for Migration one of whose employees was badly injured.
The Taliban told the BBC it was targeting CIA trainers.The Taliban told the BBC it was targeting CIA trainers.
Local TV reports said several gunmen were holed up in the area, which is home to a number of institutional buildings and to foreign workers. The attack began at about 16:00 local time (11:30 GMT) with a car bombing, and it was late evening in Kabul by the time interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the last of the assailants had been killed.
Kabul police chief Gen Ayub Salangi told the BBC that all but one of five or six assailants had been killed, and that seven policemen were injured. The militants, who officials said numbered five or six, had been holed up in the area, home to a number of buildings used by foreign workers.
"We are dealing with a well co-ordinated attack," he said. "We are dealing with a well co-ordinated attack," Kabul police chief Gen Ayub Salangi told the BBC as the attack unfolded.
"Afghan forces will deal with them." He said seven policemen had been injured.
A Taliban spokesman said the group had targeted CIA trainers instructing Afghans at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) intelligence agency.A Taliban spokesman said the group had targeted CIA trainers instructing Afghans at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) intelligence agency.
The IOM said one of its employees had been badly burned by a grenade attack, and that three security officers had suffered minor injuries.The IOM said one of its employees had been badly burned by a grenade attack, and that three security officers had suffered minor injuries.
'Spring offensive''Spring offensive'
It was not clear whether the guesthouse was the main target of the attack, which Gen Salangi said had begun with a car bomb. It was not clear whether the guesthouse was the main target of the attack.
Earlier, Afghan TV Channel One quoted police as saying a group of assailants had taken up position inside the nearby headquarters of the Directorate of the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF). During the assault, Afghan TV Channel One quoted police as saying a group of militants had taken up position inside the nearby headquarters of the Directorate of the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF).
A hospital run by the NDS is also in the area.A hospital run by the NDS is also in the area.
Some reports said there had been a series blasts as the assault began. Ambulances were shown heading for the scene of the attack. The initial explosion was felt several kilometres away, shattering shop windows and sending a plume of smoke into the sky. There were reports of smaller, subsequent blasts.
Smoke was seen over the centre of the city and the blast was felt several kilometres away. Graeme Smith, who works for the think tank Crisis Group and lives in the New City neighbourhood about 1km (0.6 miles) away from the site of the fighting, said he had heard a constant exchange of gunfire for several hours.
Shopkeepers in the area said the explosion had shattered their windows. Part of Kabul was cordoned off. "It seems to have been contained, which shows how robust the Afghan forces are in the capital," he said.
"In more rural parts of the country this would have had a much bigger impact."
The Taliban announced a "spring offensive" in April, saying it would target foreign military bases and diplomatic areas.The Taliban announced a "spring offensive" in April, saying it would target foreign military bases and diplomatic areas.
Last week another Islamist militant group, Hezb-e-Islami, said it had carried out an attack on a military convoy in Kabul in which at least 15 people were killed and dozens injured.Last week another Islamist militant group, Hezb-e-Islami, said it had carried out an attack on a military convoy in Kabul in which at least 15 people were killed and dozens injured.
In the last major attack in Kabul before that, a suicide bomber blew himself up near the defence ministry, killing nine people.In the last major attack in Kabul before that, a suicide bomber blew himself up near the defence ministry, killing nine people.
Most international troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Afghan forces are due to take responsibility for the security of the whole country in the next few months, for the first time since 1992.Most international troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Afghan forces are due to take responsibility for the security of the whole country in the next few months, for the first time since 1992.