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Afghan election commission HQ under attack by Taliban Afghan election commission HQ under attack by Taliban
(35 minutes later)
Taliban insurgents are attacking the headquarters of the Afghan election commission in Kabul, a week before the presidential election, police say.Taliban insurgents are attacking the headquarters of the Afghan election commission in Kabul, a week before the presidential election, police say.
Gunmen have entered a nearby building and are firing at the election commission with automatic weapons. Gunmen broke into a nearby building and are firing at the election commission with automatic weapons.
Afghan special forces have entered the building to confront the attackers, police say.Afghan special forces have entered the building to confront the attackers, police say.
The attack comes a week before presidential elections which the Taliban have vowed to disrupt.The attack comes a week before presidential elections which the Taliban have vowed to disrupt.
It comes a day after a major onslaught on a building housing foreign aid workers in the Afghan capital.It comes a day after a major onslaught on a building housing foreign aid workers in the Afghan capital.
Taliban spokesperson Dr Zabiullah Mujahid has confirmed to the BBC that the militant group was behind the attack.Taliban spokesperson Dr Zabiullah Mujahid has confirmed to the BBC that the militant group was behind the attack.
'Dressed as women'
The assailants are using a three-storey building as a launching pad to attack the heavily secured compound of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), a senior official told the BBC.The assailants are using a three-storey building as a launching pad to attack the heavily secured compound of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), a senior official told the BBC.
He said several warehouses in the compound have come under fire, including one containing election materials for Kabul province.He said several warehouses in the compound have come under fire, including one containing election materials for Kabul province.
Separately, Kabul police chief General Zahir told the BBC they had "cornered the attackers" and that elite forces were confronting the insurgents inside the building. The owner of the building said the insurgents had entered his house disguised as women, wearing burkas.
He said that there were four attackers armed with rocket-propelled grenades and small and heavy weapons. Kabul police chief General Zahir told the BBC they had "cornered the attackers" and that elite forces were confronting the insurgents inside the building.
The commission is on a specially built site on a main road out of the centre of Kabul to the east, says the BBC's David Loyn in Kabul. It is not yet clear if there are any casualties. He said that there were four attackers armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other weapons.
"We heard two explosions inside the IEC compound, the sound of firing is still ongoing, but people are safe and are in (reinforced) safe rooms," IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor tells AFP news agency. The commission is on a specially built site on a main road out of the centre of Kabul to the east, says the BBC's David Loyn in Kabul. It is highly defended, he adds.
No casualties have been reported.
Dozens of employees, who had been inside the IEC compound at the time of the attack, took cover in the basement, Associated Press reports.
IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor said two explosions were heard inside the compound, but that people were safe "in (reinforced) safe rooms".
The group has threatened a campaign of violence to disrupt the polls on 5 April, urging their fighters to attack polling staff, voters and security forces in the run-up to election day.The group has threatened a campaign of violence to disrupt the polls on 5 April, urging their fighters to attack polling staff, voters and security forces in the run-up to election day.
The latest attack comes hours before the election commission was due to announce details of how many polling stations will be opened.The latest attack comes hours before the election commission was due to announce details of how many polling stations will be opened.
It is the second attack against an IEC office in the Afghan capital this week.It is the second attack against an IEC office in the Afghan capital this week.
Recent Taliban attacks include:Recent Taliban attacks include: