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Afghanistan presidential palace attacked in Kabul Afghan Taliban assault in Kabul secure zone
(about 2 hours later)
Militants have attacked the presidential palace and government buildings in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Afghan security forces have battled militants who launched a gun and bomb attack near the presidential palace, in one of the most secure areas of Kabul.
More than half a dozen explosions were heard as they clashed with security personnel at the palace's eastern gate, the defence ministry and a CIA station. Officials say all the insurgents were killed after heavy clashes. The Taliban say they carried out the attack .
The police said all of the attackers were killed. The Taliban said they carried out the assault. President Hamid Karzai was in the palace, but the target appears to have been the nearby Ariana hotel, believed to house a CIA base.
The incident comes days after President Hamid Karzai raised objections about US-backed peace talks with the Taliban. This is the latest in a string of attacks on Kabul in recent months.
He said the High Peace Council, the government body set up to lead peace efforts, would not take part unless the process was "Afghan-led". Most recently a suicide bomber in the capital targeted a prominent Afghan politician on 18 June, just hours before Nato formally handed security responsibility to the Afghan forces.
With this attack the Taliban infiltrated one of the most heavily-guarded areas of the capital, with several key buildings such as the defence ministry and Nato headquarters located very close by.
The Afghan Taliban have showed no sign of abating their assault on security targets, despite last week's announcement that it had set up an office in the Gulf state of Qatar for US-led peace talks.
President Karzai raised strong objections saying that the flag and nameplate initially erected at the building showed that the office purported to be a government-in-exile.
Officials say the High Peace Council, the Afghan government body set up to lead peace efforts, would not take part unless the talks process was "Afghan-led".
News conferenceNews conference
The attack near the presidential palace, in the central district of Shash Darak, began at about 06:30 local time (02:00 GMT).The attack near the presidential palace, in the central district of Shash Darak, began at about 06:30 local time (02:00 GMT).
The militants initially targeted the palace's eastern gate - a few hundred metres from the actual building - where dozens of journalists had gathered for a news conference with Mr Karzai scheduled for 09:00.The militants initially targeted the palace's eastern gate - a few hundred metres from the actual building - where dozens of journalists had gathered for a news conference with Mr Karzai scheduled for 09:00.
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary, who was among the crowd of journalists, says they were forced to run for cover as bullets flew overhead.The BBC's Bilal Sarwary, who was among the crowd of journalists, says they were forced to run for cover as bullets flew overhead.
The journalists heard several explosions, and reports said grenades were being thrown. Tolo TV reported as many as 14 blasts.The journalists heard several explosions, and reports said grenades were being thrown. Tolo TV reported as many as 14 blasts.
The president was inside the palace when the gate came under attack, officials said. The government has yet to comment.
Our correspondent says the area around the palace, which is patrolled regularly throughout the day by special forces and intelligence agents, is now under lockdown.Our correspondent says the area around the palace, which is patrolled regularly throughout the day by special forces and intelligence agents, is now under lockdown.
Later, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a text message: "A number of martyrs attacked the presidential palace, defence ministry and the Ariana Hotel." Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a text message: "A number of martyrs attacked the presidential palace, defence ministry and the Ariana Hotel."
The Ariana Hotel is known to house a CIA station.The Ariana Hotel is known to house a CIA station.
The assailants reportedly made their way into a nearby building before eventually being killed. Kabul's police chief, Ayub Salangi, said the attack was brought to an end just under two hours after the first shots were fired.
Kabul's police chief, Aoub Salangi, said the attack was brought to an end just under two hours after the first shots were fired. He said there were thought to have been four attackers, and that they had used a fake vehicle security pass to pass through checkpoints. Four attackers wearing uniform and carrying fake ID cards began the attack, with one blowing himself up, a defence ministry spokesman told the BBC. They were eventually killed by private security forces attached to the hotel.
The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force, whose headquarters is also not far from the scene of the attack, wrote on Twitter that the Afghan National Security Forces had led "the response efforts".The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force, whose headquarters is also not far from the scene of the attack, wrote on Twitter that the Afghan National Security Forces had led "the response efforts".
Last week, Isaf handed over responsibility for security to the ANSF for the first time since the Taliban government was ousted in 2001.Last week, Isaf handed over responsibility for security to the ANSF for the first time since the Taliban government was ousted in 2001.
International troops will remain in Afghanistan until the end of 2014, providing military back-up when needed.International troops will remain in Afghanistan until the end of 2014, providing military back-up when needed.
The BBC's Jonathan Beale says there have been a number of high-profile attacks in Kabul over the past month, though this is the closest insurgents have got to the heart of Afghanistan's government.The BBC's Jonathan Beale says there have been a number of high-profile attacks in Kabul over the past month, though this is the closest insurgents have got to the heart of Afghanistan's government.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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