Taliban raids presidential compound in Kabul
Explosions and gunfire mark assault on building in heart of Afghanistan's capital where meeting was due to take place.

Last Modified: 25 Jun 2013 03:57




Explosions and gunfire have erupted in Kabul, with police confirming an attack in the centre of the Afghan capital.
The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for early Tuesday morning's attack targeting the presidential palace and the CIA office in central Kabul on Tuesday morning.
All the Taliban fighters who died in the attack, Afghan police said.
Kabul police chief Mohammad Ayoub Salangi told reporters at the scene that all three or four militants had died.
He said they jumped out of their explosives-laden car before detonating it.
Minutes earlier Kabul police CID chief, told AFP news agency that the attack had been ongoing, beginning at about 6:30am local time on Tuesday.
Al Jazeera's producer Qais Azimy, who was at the scene at the time, said the attack a meeting was expected to take place.
He said the attack mirrored recent previous incidents and appeared to be well-coordinated.
A number of the attackers targeted the west gate, which is near the CIA office, our producer said, adding that black smoke was billowing out of the building.
Azimy also said President Hamid Karzai was likely to be in his office at the time as he was due to address the media.