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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 have attacked the headquarters of the Afghan election commission in Kabul, a week before the presidential election.Taliban insurgents have attacked the headquarters of the Afghan election commission in Kabul, a week before the presidential election.
Gunmen broke into a nearby building, disguised as women, and fired at the election commission with automatic weapons.Gunmen broke into a nearby building, disguised as women, and fired at the election commission with automatic weapons.
Afghan special forces have killed three of the four attackers, police say.Afghan special forces have killed three of the four 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 an onslaught on a building housing foreign aid workers in the Afghan capital.It comes a day after an onslaught on a building housing foreign aid workers in the Afghan capital.
Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid has confirmed to the BBC that the militant group was behind the attack.Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid has confirmed to the BBC that the militant group was behind the attack.
'Dressed as women''Dressed as women'
Kabul police chief General Zahir told the BBC that three of the attackers had been shot and killed by security forces. He said they had been armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other weapons.Kabul police chief General Zahir told the BBC that three of the attackers had been shot and killed by security forces. He said they had been armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other weapons.
Elite forces were still confronting one other insurgent inside the building, he added.Elite forces were still confronting one other insurgent inside the building, he added.
The assailants were using a three-storey building as a launching pad to attack the heavily guarded compound of the Independent Election Commission (IEC).The assailants were using a three-storey building as a launching pad to attack the heavily guarded compound of the Independent Election Commission (IEC).
Several warehouses in the compound have been targeted, with at least one containing election materials on fire, a reporter at the scene says.Several warehouses in the compound have been targeted, with at least one containing election materials on fire, a reporter at the scene says.
The owner of the building said the insurgents had entered his house disguised as women, wearing burkas.The owner of the building said the insurgents had entered his house disguised as women, wearing burkas.
No women or children were inside the house at the time, the police chief said.No women or children were inside the house at the time, the police chief said.
Afghanistan's main airport in Kabul has been closed because of its proximity to the compound under attack, reports Associated Press, quoting airport officials.Afghanistan's main airport in Kabul has been closed because of its proximity to the compound under attack, reports Associated Press, quoting airport officials.
Airport director Yaqoub Rassouli said the authorities decided the risk was too high to keep the runway open.Airport director Yaqoub Rassouli said the authorities decided the risk was too high to keep the runway open.
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.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 civilian casualties have been reported.No civilian 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, AP reports.Dozens of employees, who had been inside the IEC compound at the time of the attack, took cover in the basement, AP reports.
IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor said two explosions were heard inside the compound, but that people were safe "in (reinforced) safe rooms".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 its 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 its fighters to attack polling staff, voters and security forces in the run-up to election day.
The latest attack came hours before the election commission was due to announce details of how many polling stations would be opened.The latest attack came hours before the election commission was due to announce details of how many polling stations would 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:
The election is the first real test of Afghanistan's democracy, as it is the first in which outgoing President Hamid Karzai is not eligible to stand, our correspondent says.
But after making much of the countryside too dangerous for democracy, he adds, the Taliban have now turned their attention to the body monitoring the process itself.