Burka-clad Taliban storm Kabul election office

The country’s interior minister said at least two gunmen were shot dead after a battle that lasted for more than five hours in the centre of the Afghan capital.

A security official said at least three suicide bombers have been killed.

Police said militants had occupied an office used by the Independent Election Commission, who are overseeing the poll on April 5.

They were said to have entered the building disguised as women wearing burkas, before firing rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns at security forces.

Explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising from the building.

Kabul police chief Mohammad Zahir told reporters: “Four suicide bombers armed with light and heavy weapons have entered a building near the IEC headquarters and are shooting towards the IEC compound and at passers-by.”

Four suicide bombers armed with light and heavy weapons have entered a building near the IEC headquarters and are shooting towards the IEC compound and at passers-by. Mohammad Zahir

The incident is latest in a series of high-profile attacks as the Taliban has step up its campaign of violence ahead of the presidential elections.

The Islamist group, which is seeking to destabilise what it calls a Western-backed “sham”, has claimed responsibility.

The election will mark the first democratic transfer of power in the country’s troubled history.

IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor said that IEC personnel were safe and that Afghan security forces were in control of their building.

UN staff at the complex near the IEC were instructed to take refuge in safe rooms until further notice.

Wave of attacks

The Taliban has launched a wave of so-called “complex” attacks in Kabul, involving an initial bombing followed by gunfire. Dozens have also been killed in other assaults around the country in recent weeks.

On Friday, Afghan security forces battled with militants for hours after the Taliban stormed a guest house used by a US-based aid group. A child was killed but all the aid workers survived.

Last week, nine people including an AFP journalist and an election observer were killed in an attack on a highly fortified hotel in the capital. The hotel attack prompted most foreign election monitoring missions to withdraw their international observers, further denting confidence in the outcome of Saturday’s vote.

The election is seen as a major test by foreign donors who are nervous about bankrolling the Afghan government after the bulk of NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan withdraw later this year.