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Afghan election commission HQ under attack by Taliban Afghanistan election HQ attack: Taliban militants killed
(about 1 hour later)
Taliban insurgents have attacked the headquarters of the Afghan election commission in Kabul, a week before the presidential election. A group of Taliban militants who attacked Afghanistan's election commission headquarters has been killed, police say.
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 opened fire on the commission compound.
Afghan special forces have killed all four attackers, according to police. Police said special forces killed four attackers, while the Interior Ministry put the number at five.
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.
Insurgents in the Afghan capital targeted a building housing foreign aid workers on Friday. Insurgents in the Afghan capital targeted a guest house for foreign aid workers on Friday.
Police chief of Kabul General Zahir told the BBC "We are now clearing rooms. Afghan special forces are firing room to room," adding that "I think all of the attackers are killed." Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed to the BBC that the militant group was behind the latest attack.
That claim could not be independently verified. Deputy Interior Minister Mohammed Ayub Salangi says two policemen were wounded in the attack. There are not thought to have been any casualties among the dozens of Independent Election Commission (IEC) staff and other people in the compound.
Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid has confirmed to the BBC that the militant group was behind the attack. The BBC's David Loyn in Kabul said that while the attackers were probably too far away from the most important areas of the compound to cause significant damage to the election process, security fears could yet delay the election.
The heavily fortified compound includes a series of warehouses and office buildings where candidates are registered and ballot papers are sent out across the country.
'Dressed as women''Dressed as women'
The assailants used a three-storey building as a launching pad to attack the heavily guarded compound of the Independent Election Commission (IEC). The assailants used a three-storey building as a launch pad for their attack on the election commission headquarters.
Gen Zahir told the BBC they were armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other weapons. Kabul police chief General Zahir told the BBC the attackers were armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other weapons.
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.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.
Several warehouses in the election commission compound were targeted, and at least one containing election material was reported to have been on fire. Security forces battled the militants for about five hours, while IEC staff and eight international United Nations employees took refuge in safe rooms, AP reports.
Several warehouses in the election commission compound were targeted, and at least one containing election material was reported to have been set on fire.
Abdul Satar Saadat, Chairman of the Electoral Complaints Commission, said election officials were worried by militant attacks and he urged the government to step up security.Abdul Satar Saadat, Chairman of the Electoral Complaints Commission, said election officials were worried by militant attacks and he urged the government to step up security.
"The Taliban warned they will attack every polling centre. They warned every election worker and they started attacking our staff, our offices," he said."The Taliban warned they will attack every polling centre. They warned every election worker and they started attacking our staff, our offices," he said.
Afghan Interior Minister Omar Daudzai told the BBC that security problems during the election were not an issue: "I'm not worried. I'm firm, I'm confident that security will be tight between now and the election, and on election day."Afghan Interior Minister Omar Daudzai told the BBC that security problems during the election were not an issue: "I'm not worried. I'm firm, I'm confident that security will be tight between now and the election, and on election day."
"We are in the middle of a war. For the past 12 years the war has not stopped, but we are confident that these incidents will not derail the election process," he added."We are in the middle of a war. For the past 12 years the war has not stopped, but we are confident that these incidents will not derail the election process," he added.
Afghanistan's main airport in Kabul was closed because of its proximity to the compound under attack, reports Associated Press, quoting airport officials.Afghanistan's main airport in Kabul was closed because of its proximity to the compound under attack, reports Associated Press, quoting airport officials.
Airport closedAirport closed
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, our correspondent says.
Dozens of employees, who had been inside the IEC compound at the time of the attack, took cover in the basement, AP reports. No civilian casualties have been reported.
IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor said two explosions were heard inside the compound, but that people were safe "in (reinforced) safe rooms".
The Taliban 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 the vote.The Taliban 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 the vote.
Many regions have already received the documents ahead of the 5 April vote.
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.
If the electoral commission decides the security situation in the countryside is too dangerous to open enough polling stations, it could request a delay to the election. Saturday's attack is likely to focus minds on just how dangerous parts of the country still are, correspondents say.
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.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.