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Militants attack Afghan capital Militants attack Afghan capital
(30 minutes later)
Suspected Taliban militants have launched an attack in the Afghan capital Kabul, setting off explosions and sparking a gun battle.Suspected Taliban militants have launched an attack in the Afghan capital Kabul, setting off explosions and sparking a gun battle.
The fighting is in an area around the presidential palace, Serena Hotel, the Central Bank and Ministry of Justice.The fighting is in an area around the presidential palace, Serena Hotel, the Central Bank and Ministry of Justice.
The Taliban says 20 fighters, including suicide bombers, are involved. Nato forces say at least two insurgents have been killed.The Taliban says 20 fighters, including suicide bombers, are involved. Nato forces say at least two insurgents have been killed.
This is the latest in a series of increasingly brazen attacks on Kabul.This is the latest in a series of increasingly brazen attacks on Kabul.
A statement on a Taliban website said the raid had specifically targeted government buildings and the hotel.A statement on a Taliban website said the raid had specifically targeted government buildings and the hotel.
'Chaotic scene''Chaotic scene'
BBC correspondents say there have been at least two explosions.BBC correspondents say there have been at least two explosions.
A suicide bomber in a car detonated explosives near the education ministry, with unconfirmed reports of a number of casualties.A suicide bomber in a car detonated explosives near the education ministry, with unconfirmed reports of a number of casualties.
A second smaller explosion hit the Cinema Pamir area of Kabul.A second smaller explosion hit the Cinema Pamir area of Kabul.
Nato's Isaf force said it was "working closely with our Afghan partners to aggressively contain the situation during which several small explosions were reported near the Feroshgah-e-Afghan shopping centre and the Serena Hotel". The BBC's Allan Little, at the scene, says Taliban fighters seem to have taken over a couple of buildings, and one shopping centre is on fire.
Streets in the centre of the city have been closed and hotels and government buildings have been locked down. He says the Afghan army has taken up positions on nearby buildings and the battle could be moving to the south of the city centre.
There are reports of a number of wounded people being ferried away in ambulances. Earlier, Nato's Isaf force said it was "working closely with our Afghan partners to aggressively contain the situation during which several small explosions were reported near the Feroshgah-e-Afghan shopping centre and the Serena Hotel".
Casualties cannot be confirmed, but there are reports of a number of wounded people being ferried away in ambulances, while an Afghan interior ministry spokesman told AFP news agency four insurgents had so far been killed.
One official trapped in a government building told the Reuters news agency: "It is a chaotic scene, we do not know what to do and where to go."One official trapped in a government building told the Reuters news agency: "It is a chaotic scene, we do not know what to do and where to go."
The US condemned the attack. Special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke said: "It's not surprising that the Taliban do this sort of thing. They are desperate people, they are ruthless."
Taliban militants have launched a number of recent attacks on Kabul.Taliban militants have launched a number of recent attacks on Kabul.
In October, five UN staff were killed in a raid on a UN guesthouse. The Serena Hotel was also targeted in the attack.In October, five UN staff were killed in a raid on a UN guesthouse. The Serena Hotel was also targeted in the attack.
The BBC's Mark Dummett in Kabul says there will be huge concern that the militants have again broken through to the most protected part of the city, although security forces say they do prevent many other attacks.The BBC's Mark Dummett in Kabul says there will be huge concern that the militants have again broken through to the most protected part of the city, although security forces say they do prevent many other attacks.
Nato spokesman US Navy Lt Nico Melendez told the BBC innocent civilians had been the target of Monday's attack.Nato spokesman US Navy Lt Nico Melendez told the BBC innocent civilians had been the target of Monday's attack.
RECENT KABUL ATTACKS 15 Dec 09: Six killed in suicide attack near hotel in Wazir Akbar Khan district24 Oct 09: Six UN staff and three Afghans killed in attack on UN guesthouse8 Oct 09: Suicide bomber attacks Indian embassy, killing at least 1717 Sept 09: Six Italian soldiers and 10 Afghans die in military convoy blast18 Aug 09: Suicide blast kills 10 in attack on convoy of Western troops11 Feb 09: Assault on three government buildings kills 27, including eight attackers
"We don't see a lot of attacks like this in Kabul. We do know that there are forces throughout the city providing protection for the innocent Afghan citizens and we're doing everything we can to help the Afghan police and the Afghan army."We don't see a lot of attacks like this in Kabul. We do know that there are forces throughout the city providing protection for the innocent Afghan citizens and we're doing everything we can to help the Afghan police and the Afghan army.
"You can't protect all the people, all the time, all the places.""You can't protect all the people, all the time, all the places."
Monday's attack comes amid continuing political uncertainty in Afghanistan.Monday's attack comes amid continuing political uncertainty in Afghanistan.
Some new members of President Hamid Karzai's cabinet were being sworn in at the time of the raid, but there are still a large number of posts vacant.Some new members of President Hamid Karzai's cabinet were being sworn in at the time of the raid, but there are still a large number of posts vacant.
Parliament has twice rejected many of Mr Karzai's nominations for a new cabinet, forcing the president to direct deputy ministers or other caretaker figures to run their ministries.Parliament has twice rejected many of Mr Karzai's nominations for a new cabinet, forcing the president to direct deputy ministers or other caretaker figures to run their ministries.
The uncertainty comes ahead of the key London Conference on Afghanistan later this month.The uncertainty comes ahead of the key London Conference on Afghanistan later this month.
Mr Karzai was re-elected last August in a vote marred by fraud.Mr Karzai was re-elected last August in a vote marred by fraud.
Since then, the US and Nato have launched an overhaul of Afghan policy, with a large number of additional troops pledged.Since then, the US and Nato have launched an overhaul of Afghan policy, with a large number of additional troops pledged.
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