Taliban insurgents attack Kabul district, presidential palace

kabul » Taliban gunmen attacked Afghanistan’s presidential palace and surrounding buildings, including the CIA’s Afghan headquarters, early on Tuesday, with explosions and gunfire shaking the city center.

Kabul’s police chief Gen. Ayoub Salangi told Reuters the insurgent attack was put down with all the assailants killed. Salangi said the gunfight ended after about 90 minutes with all the attackers killed.

AReuters reporter at the palace said the attack began soon after 6:30 a.m., when at least one man opened fire with an automatic rifle at a gate to the palace in the central Shash Darak district.

Karzai’s whereabouts was not immediately known, although he was due to attend a press event at the palace after 9 a.m.

Reporters had been gathering at the palace when the attack began and dived for cover as government forces returned fire. Heavy explosions resounded, and the gunfire intensified.

Schoolchildrenwalking to classes nearbywere also caught in the exchanges.

The Taliban claimed responsibility the attack in a text message to Kabul reporters fromspokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

“Today at 6:30 a.m. a number of suicide bombers attacked the presidential palace, defence ministry and the Ariana Hotel,” Mujahid said.

The Ariana Hotel is known to house the headquarters of the CIA in Afghanistan. Athick plume of smoke was seen rising from the building.

An Afghan official told Reuters the attackers had made their way into a nearby building from which they were firing.