Taliban attack in Kabul

Taliban fighters are reported to have launched an attack on Thursday in an upmarket district in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Witnesses said there were several explosions and gunfire in the Wazir Akbar Khan district. Foreign embassies and housing compounds for international agencies and companies, and the homes of Afghan government officials are also in the area.

A Taliban spokesman said the target was a guesthouse in the diplomatic district, which was occupied by foreigners.

The anonymous spokesman refused to give further details, adding only that the aim of the attack was "enemies."

Lockdown over terror attack

There was a heavy police presence following the attack and surrounding streets were locked down.

This latest terror attack came just hours after several people died in a suicide bombing on a British embassy vehicle. A Taliban militant drove his explosives-packed car into the vehicle, killing a Briton and five Afghan citizens.

Attacks across Kabul have increased in recent weeks as US-led NATO forces prepare to end their 13-year combat mission against Taliban insurgents in December.

The Taliban used a recognised Twitter account to say they were behind both attacks.

At least eight blasts have hit Kabul over the last 10 days.

There have been attacks on foreign compounds as well as a female Afghan member of parliament, who was injured in a suicide bombing that targeted her car.

Afghanistan suffered its worst attack this year on Sunday when a suicide bomber struck at a volleyball match in the eastern province of Paktika, killing around 57 people.

lw/ksb (AFP, Reuters)