7 reported dead, 8 hurt after suicide blast, battle in Kabul

KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide blast rocked Afghanistan’s capital Saturday during a gunbattle with security forces, officials said, killing at least seven people a day after hopes for all-encompassing peace talks collapsed.

Police chief Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandil said the bomber blew himself up outside the Telecommunications Ministry, clearing the way for four gunmen to enter the building and the heavily guarded government compound in central Kabul.

Nasart Rahimi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said four civilians and three soldiers were killed during the attack. Eight civilians were wounded, he said.

Wahidullah Mayar, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said the wounded people were evacuated to hospitals.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Both Taliban insurgents and the Islamic State group are active in eastern Afghanistan and have previously claimed attacks in Kabul.

The Taliban denied

Rahimi said the security operation ended at the Ministry of Telecommunication “after all four attackers were shot and killed by Afghan security forces.”

The attack came a day

involvement. after Afghan-to-Afghan peace talks in Qatar were canceled. It would have marked the first time that Taliban and Kabul government officials sat together to negotiate an end to the war in Afghanistan and a withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack, saying the enemies of Afghanistan, by targeting civil servants, are trying to create terror among the people.

Rahimi said as many as 2,700 government employees and civilians were rescued by security forces after being stuck in several government buildings including the central post office.

RAHMAT GUL/AP Afghan security personnel rescue men and children Saturday after an attack outside the telecommunications ministry in Kabul, the capital. At least eight civilians were wounded.