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Afghan forces fight armed group Kabul siege ends after gun-battle
(about 3 hours later)
Afghan security forces in Kabul have been fighting a group of armed men in a gun-battle that started during the night and continued into the morning. A siege in central Kabul has ended after hours of gunfire between Afghan security forces and an armed group.
Part of the capital was sealed off, and explosions and sporadic gunfire could be heard. Reports say between four and six people were killed in the stand-off which lasted more than eight hours and saw a large area of the city sealed off.
It is not clear if the men are suspected of being Taleban insurgents or a criminal gang.It is not clear if the men are suspected of being Taleban insurgents or a criminal gang.
Security has been tight in Kabul since the Taleban opened fire at a military parade on Sunday.Security has been tight in Kabul since the Taleban opened fire at a military parade on Sunday.
Explosions and sporadic gunfire could still be heard at rush hour coming from the Guzargah neighbourhood, which had been sealed off by police. Explosions
It is a poor area - a maze of alleyways and mud houses sprawling up the hillside close to the main road from the city centre to parliament. Afghan intelligence and security forces launched an operation in the early hours of the morning against a group of about half a dozen people who were trapped inside a house in Kabul's city centre.
Parade attack There was an exchange of gunfire and explosions were heard throughout the night in Gozgargah neighbourhood, a maze of alleyways and mud houses crawling up a hillside.
Interior Ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashari said police and intelligence forces were targeting "enemies of Afghanistan", a term often used to refer to insurgents. Sporadic gunfire continued into the morning and there is still confusion as to exactly when the siege ended and how many of the gunmen may have been killed.
But he added little more than there had been an exchange of gunfire. The authorities have given little information about the operation or who they were targeting.
President Karzai was unhurt in the attack on Sunday The Interior Ministry spokesman said only that they were enemies of Afghanistan, a term often used to refer to insurgents.
Well-armed criminal gangs are also known to operate in the city. But they could not confirm whether or not they were suspected Taleban fighters.
A policeman on the scene, speaking unofficially, said the operation began at around 0100 (2030 GMT on Tuesday). Security in Kabul has been tight after the Taleban opened fire on the president and high-ranking dignitaries on Sunday during a military parade marking a national day.
He said two of the gunmen had been killed and two injured, and they had taken refuge in one or a number of houses in the area. Senior cabinet ministers faced lengthy questioning in parliament on Tuesday over the lapse in security and lost a confidence vote by MPs, although not by a large enough majority to lose their jobs.
Security in Kabul has been tight after the Taleban opened fire on President Hamid Karzai and high-ranking Afghan and international dignitaries on Sunday during a military parade. Those same ministers are expected to hold a news conference later on Wednesday to give more details about this siege.
Senior cabinet ministers faced lengthy questioning in parliament over the lapse in security, and lost a confidence vote by MPs, although not by a large enough majority to lose their jobs. With plans for the Afghan government to take over responsibility for Kabul's security from Nato forces in August, there is intense pressure on military and intelligence leaders to prove they have a strong grip on the capital.
With plans for the government to take over responsibility for Kabul's security from Nato in August, heads of the security forces are under intense pressure to prove they have a strong grip on the capital.