Afghan health ministry says 13 wounded in Kabul fighting

Afghanistan's health ministry said that 13 people, most of them civilians, have been wounded in fighting in the centre of the city between militants and government forces.

Afghanistan's health ministry said on Monday that 13 people, most of them civilians, have been wounded in fighting in the centre of the city between militants and government forces.

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The wounded were taken to hospital as gunfire and explosions continued to ring out over the commercial and political heart of the city, said ministry spokesman Ahmad Farid Rahid.

"At this time I can tell you that 13 people have been wounded, most of them civilians, and have been evacuated to our hospitals," he told AFP.

"Most of them are civilians but they also include security personnel," he said.

He had no details about reports from NATO that two militants had been killed by Afghan security forces.

The standoff began at the height of the morning rush hour.

Automatic weapons fire and explosions have brought central Kabul to a standstill as Afghan police and military snipers take up positions on buildings around the central Pashtunistan Square.

At least two shopping malls have been blown up, possibly by suicide bombers, according to television reports.