Policeman, two attackers dead in Kabul battle: ministry

A policeman and two attackers were killed in gunbattles between security forces and insurgents armed with suicide vests and guns in downtown Kabul on Tuesday, an Afghan interior ministry spokesman said.

A policeman and two attackers were killed in gunbattles between security forces and insurgents armed with suicide vests and guns in downtown Kabul on Tuesday, an Afghan interior ministry spokesman said.

Up to six insurgents launched a coordinated assault in the heavily protected heart of the Afghan capital about three hours earlier, sparking gunbattles near Nato's headquarters and the US embassy.

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"Two of the terrorists were about half an hour ago brought down (killed). The remaining three or four are still resisting," Siddiq Siddiqui said.

"A clearance operation is ongoing. So far one policeman has been martyred," he said, adding that five civilians had also been wounded.

Afghan officials said two separate suicide attacks targeted police, one near parliament and both in the western part of the capital on Tuesday.

Three policemen were wounded in those attacks, the interior ministry said.