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| Suicide bombers hit Afghan city | Suicide bombers hit Afghan city |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Taliban militants, including several suicide bombers, have attacked government buildings in the south-eastern Afghan city of Khost. | Taliban militants, including several suicide bombers, have attacked government buildings in the south-eastern Afghan city of Khost. |
| The militants, armed with automatic weapons, battled security forces until six blew themselves up and one was shot dead, according to defence officials. | The militants, armed with automatic weapons, battled security forces until six blew themselves up and one was shot dead, according to defence officials. |
| They say 14 civilians and three police officers were wounded. | They say 14 civilians and three police officers were wounded. |
| The violence comes amid a rise in attacks ahead of Afghanistan's presidential election due on 20 August. | The violence comes amid a rise in attacks ahead of Afghanistan's presidential election due on 20 August. |
| Officials say militants wearing suicide belts and armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades attacked Khost's main police station and nearby buildings on Saturday. | Officials say militants wearing suicide belts and armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades attacked Khost's main police station and nearby buildings on Saturday. |
| Critically wounded | Critically wounded |
| It was unclear how many attackers were involved. Zabihullah Mujahid who claims to be a Taliban spokesman told the BBC from unknown location: "Four of our attackers had entered the city this afternoon." | It was unclear how many attackers were involved. Zabihullah Mujahid who claims to be a Taliban spokesman told the BBC from unknown location: "Four of our attackers had entered the city this afternoon." |
| But government officials told the BBC eight militants had attacked various sites, and only one of them managed to get away. | But government officials told the BBC eight militants had attacked various sites, and only one of them managed to get away. |
| One of the 14 civilians wounded in the fighting is in a critical condition, a defence ministry spokesman told the BBC. | |
| Khost resident Mohammad Goal Jan described the confusion during the fighting. | Khost resident Mohammad Goal Jan described the confusion during the fighting. |
| "I can hear a lot of gunshots and loud explosions from the police chief's office. | "I can hear a lot of gunshots and loud explosions from the police chief's office. |
| "Police and army have blocked the main roads. Khost city is empty. There is a lot of confusion at the moment.'' | "Police and army have blocked the main roads. Khost city is empty. There is a lot of confusion at the moment.'' |
| One of the presidential candidates, Ramazan Bashardost, was in Khost but was not affected. | One of the presidential candidates, Ramazan Bashardost, was in Khost but was not affected. |
| Previous attacks | Previous attacks |
| The attack is a big blow to the authorities who have promised better security for the elections next month, says the BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul. | The attack is a big blow to the authorities who have promised better security for the elections next month, says the BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul. |
| Such attacks will only add to the worries of local Afghans in the country's restive south-eastern provinces. | Such attacks will only add to the worries of local Afghans in the country's restive south-eastern provinces. |
| Most of them live in a climate of fear. After attacks in Khost, Paktia and Ningarhar provinces recently, security was beefed up specifically on the outskirts of the city which borders Pakistan. | Most of them live in a climate of fear. After attacks in Khost, Paktia and Ningarhar provinces recently, security was beefed up specifically on the outskirts of the city which borders Pakistan. |
| According to local residents, all vehicles coming in and out of Khost were checked on regular basis. | According to local residents, all vehicles coming in and out of Khost were checked on regular basis. |
| In May, six people were killed when militants launched simultaneous assaults on government buildings in Khost. | In May, six people were killed when militants launched simultaneous assaults on government buildings in Khost. |
| Last week at least four security personnel were killed in attacks on Gardez, about 50 miles (80km) northwest of Khost, when militants attacked the police chief's office, a police station and the intelligence directorate, as well as the governor's compound. | Last week at least four security personnel were killed in attacks on Gardez, about 50 miles (80km) northwest of Khost, when militants attacked the police chief's office, a police station and the intelligence directorate, as well as the governor's compound. |
| Another security personnel died in an attack in eastern city of Jalalabad. | Another security personnel died in an attack in eastern city of Jalalabad. |