Explosions, gunfire shake Afghan capital

Series of blasts, rocket fire rock Kabul as Taliban targets diplomatic quarter
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Published: 15 April, 2012, 14:04
Afghan police head to the scene of an attack in Kabul on April 15, 2012. The Afghan capital Kabul came under coordinated attack April 15, with explosions and gunfire rocking the diplomatic enclave as militants took over a hotel and tried to enter parliament. (AFP Photo / Jonannes Eisele)

Afghan police head to the scene of an attack in Kabul on April 15, 2012. The Afghan capital Kabul came under coordinated attack April 15, with explosions and gunfire rocking the diplomatic enclave as militants took over a hotel and tried to enter parliament. (AFP Photo / Jonannes Eisele)

TAGS: Afghanistan, Blast

At least a dozen large explosions, followed by rocket fire and automatic gunfire, struck Kabul on Sunday in what appears to be a coordinated attack on the diplomatic area and the NATO base. The Taliban says it's behind the attacks.

Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed multiple attacks on seven locations across Kabul but gave no details on the casualties.

A parliamentary spokesman told Reuters that rockets were fired at Afghanistan's parliament and Russian embassy buildings. Russian diplomats later denied the embassy was under fire.

Several attackers have attempted to enter the Afghan parliament in Kabul, a local official said. They were driven back by security forces and had taken cover in the nearby building.

Residents across the city also reported explosions near the parliament building.

A witness says a rocket-propelled grenade hit the residence of the British ambassador in Kabul.

Suicide bombers are said to have taken over a Kabul hotel known to be used by foreigners, launching rocket and rifle fire.

Smoke is billowing from the direction of the German embassy and several other buildings, while sirens could be heard throughout the neighbourhood.

RT's correspondent in Kabul was close to the site of the explosions, and we're currently unable to contact him.

Taliban claim armed suicide bombers also launched an attack on NATO headquarters.

A Turkish military base on the outskirts of Kabul is reported to be under mortar attack. Turkish and Greek forces are responding with heavy-caliber machine gunfire.

Police say at least one attacker has been killed during in insurgency, Al Arabiya says.

Police say suicide bombers have attacked Jalalabad airport in eastern Afghanistan. Taliban declared attacks are also taking place in eastern Paktia and Logar provinces. They added that a police training facility in eastern Afghanistan has been attacked, too.

­
Afghan police run towards to the scene of attacks in Kabul on April 15, 2012. (AFP Photo / Jonannes Eisele)
Afghan police run towards to the scene of attacks in Kabul on April 15, 2012. (AFP Photo / Jonannes Eisele)
An Afghan policeman takes position at the site of an attack in Kabul April 15, 2012. (Reuters / Omar Sobhani)
An Afghan policeman takes position at the site of an attack in Kabul April 15, 2012. (Reuters / Omar Sobhani)

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Apr. 15, 2012 6:57 AM ET

RAHIM FAIEZ and HEIDI VOGT, Associated Press THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

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A U.S. Chinook helicopter flies over Kabul, Afghanistan, during a visit of NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Thursday, April 12, 2012. NATO said Thursday it is on track to fully hand over responsibility for securing Afghanistan to local forces by the end of 2014 as scheduled. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Militants launched a series of coordinated attacks in the Afghan capital Sunday, with blasts and gunfire rocking three neighborhoods that are home to Afghan government buildings, Western embassies and NATO bases.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the ongoing assault in Kabul in a text message to The Associated Press. He said a group of armed suicide bombers launched an attack on the NATO forces headquarters, the parliament building across town and a number of diplomatic residences in Kabul.

The attacks were the first in the heavily guarded capital since a shooting inside the Interior Ministry in February in which a ministry employee turned a gun on NATO advisers and shot two soldiers dead.

More than 10 explosions in all rocked the capital Sunday, and heavy gunfire shook the city for more than an hour after the initial blast. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

There were also attacks in three other eastern cities at about the same time. Details were sketchy and the fighting was still going on. The Taliban spokesman did not provide any information about attacks outside the capital.

Last week, Mujahid said in a statement that Taliban planners were preparing to launch a spring offensive. In a statement posted on a Taliban website on Thursday, he said NATO officials should have patience, because Taliban commanders would wait for the "appropriate time" to launch attacks.

The first explosions in Kabul struck the central Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood, which is home to a number of embassies, including that of the U.S., as well as a NATO base. Gunfire erupted soon after the blasts, forcing people out in the street to quickly take cover. Smoke could be seen rising from a few buildings in the neighborhood as sirens wailed.

The American Embassy said in a statement saying that there were attacks "in the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy."

Militants who had staked out positions in a tall building were firing rockets in different directions, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene. It was not immediately clear what they were targeting, but shots appeared to be focusing on the nearby British Embassy.

At about the same time, residents reported a blast near the parliament building across town. A police officer in the area, Mohammad Assan, said there was an attack involving shooting near parliament.

On the outskirts of the city, militants also targeted a NATO base known as Camp Warehouse with mortar fire, according to an AP reporter at the scene. Turkish and Greek forces at the base were responding with heavy-caliber machine gun fire.

A police officer said suicide bomber had occupied a building near the base and was shooting toward the Kabul Military Training Center on Jalalabad road. The officer spoke anonymously because he was not an authorized spokesman.

The other assaults were in the capital cities of the provinces of Logar, Paktia and Nangarhar.

In the Logar province capital of Pul-e-Alam, provincial police chief Ghulam Shakhi said militants had entered a building that belongs to the education department, which is near a building used by the Afghan intelligence service, and a gunbattle was under way.

In Paktia province, militants were shooting sporadically from a building across from a university in the provincial capital of Gardez, said the deputy provincial police chief Mohammad Zaman. He said Afghan security forces have surrounded the building. The deputy governor, Abdul Rahman Mangal, said they believe two or three suicide bombers are involved in the attack.

NATO said it was aware of reports of an explosion in the proximity of a coalition installation near Jalalabad, the provincial capital of Nangarhar, but could provide no details about the blast.

___

Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann and Amir Shah contributed to this report.
Associated Press
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

================

Afghan MPs fight insurgents near parliament-lawmakers

15 Apr 2012 11:21

Source: reuters // Reuters

KABUL, April 15 (Reuters) - Several Afghan lawmakers fought back against Taliban insurgents who waged a series of attacks across the Afghan capital including against the parliament, MPs said on Sunday.

"I'm the representative of my people and I have to defend them," Kandahar lawmaker Naeem Hameedzai Lalai told Reuters.

NATO helicopter attacks gunmen in east Afghanistan - witness

15 Apr 2012 11:10

Source: reuters // Reuters

KABUL, April 15 (Reuters) - Insurgents occupied a four-storey building near the compound of the chief of police in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia on Sunday as part of a coordinated assault in various parts of the country claimed by the Taliban, a witness said.

A helicopter gunship from Afghanistan's NATO-led force was firing at the building in the province on the Pakistani border, which has been plagued by violence for years. (Writing by Robert Birsel)

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Gunmen attack embassies, parliament in Afghan capital

15 Apr 2012 11:13

Source: reuters // Reuters

(Adds NATO comment, details; adds bylines)

By Amie Ferris-Rotman and Rob Taylor

KABUL, April 15 (Reuters) - Gunmen launched multiple attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday, assaulting Western embassies in the heavily guarded, central diplomatic area and at the parliament in the west, witnesses and officials said.

Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for the assault, one of the boldest on the capital since U.S.-backed Afghan forces removed the group from power in 2001.

The Taliban said their main targets were the German and British embassies and the headquarters of Afghanistan's NATO-led force. Taliban fighers had also launched assaults in two provinces, a spokesman for the insurgents said.

"We claim responsibility for these attacks," said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

The coordinated attack is bound to intensify worry in the run-up to the planned withdrawal of foreign combat troops by the end of 2014.

Afghan security forces, who are responsible for the safety of the capital, were scrambling to reinforce areas around the so-called green diplomatic section of the city centre.

Attackers fired a rocket-propelled grenade that landed just outside the front gate of a house used by British diplomats in the city centre and smoke billowed from the area after the blast, a Reuters witness said.

British embassy sources said staff were in a lockdown.

Two rockets hit a British Embassy guard tower near the Reuters office in the city.

A spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said via Twitter that there were no reports of casualties on possibly seven locations in Kabul.

"ANSF and ISAF responding as needed," the spokesman said, referring to Afghan security forces and their NATO partners.

However, fighting was going on near the U.S., Russian and German embassies, and at some ISAF facilities, the Twitter report said.

Three other rockets hit a supermarket near the German Embassy popular with foreigners, Reuters witnesses said. Women scurried for cover as crackling gunfire was heard above.

As the gunfire continued, U.S. army convoys could be seen coming to the area accompanied by Afghan police in flak jackets.

Shooting came from various directions in an area close to both the U.S. and British embassies, while smoke billowed from the nearby German embassy, the Reuters witnesses said.

Embassy alarms were sounding. Staff at the embassies were not available for comment.

Attackers also fired rockets at the parliament building in the west of the city, and at the Russian embassy, a spokesman for the parliament said.

Most MPs had left the building before it came under attack, said a lawmaker.

Afghan media said insurgents had stormed the Star Hotel complex near the presidential palace and the Iranian embassy and black smoke was pouring from the building.

In the eastern province of Paktia, insurgents occupied a four-storey building near the compound of the chief of police, a witness said.

A helicopter gunship from Afghanistan's NATO-led force was firing at the building in the province on the Pakistani border, which has been plagued by violence for years.

(Reporting by Amie Ferris-Rotman, Rob Taylor and Jack Kimball; Writing by Robert Birsel and Michael Georgy; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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Afghanistan Live Blog
Afghan police and army face difficult challenges ahead [Reuters]

Latest events in Afghanistan as Afghan forces take control of the country's security ahead of the 2014 withdrawal date for foreign troops.
14 min 57 sec ago - Afghanistan

Police have killed two of the attackers in two separate locations in Kabul city, Afghan interior ministry spokesman told ToloNews.

Meanwhile, reports suggest Afghan MPs and their bodyguards have joined the police in returning fire at attackers holed up in a building near the Afghan parliament.

OmidFarooqAfghan MPs say some lawmakers have joined security forces repelling attackers from roof near Afghan parliament #Kabul @ReutersSun Apr 15 11:22:04 2012

PressistanSome Afghan MPs holding guns and responding to attackers. Nayim Lalay Kandahar MP in on the roof of parliament and fires on attackers.Sun Apr 15 11:16:57 2012
Tags afghan parliament, Kabul
18 min 57 sec ago - Afghanistan

Assailants occupied a four-storey building near the compound of the chief of police in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia on Sunday as part of a coordinated assault in various parts of the country claimed by the Taliban, a witness said.

A helicopter gunship from Afghanistan's NATO-led force was firing at the building in the province on the Pakistani border, which has been plagued by violence for years.
Tags Paktia, Taliban
36 min 57 sec ago - Afghanistan

ISAFmediaAttacks ongoing; Initial reporting: US, German, Russian embassies & some ISAF, GIRoA facilities. No confirmed reports of casualtiesSun Apr 15 11:03:03 2012
Tags ISAF, Kabul
48 min 57 sec ago - Afghanistan

Afghan media reports suggest attackers, possibly with suicide vests, have entered three buildings across Kabul city: near the diplomatic quarters, across from the Afghan parliament, and near a coalition base in the outskirts of the city.

Police are being fired at from the buildings in Sherpur, near Kabul's diplomatic square, and Pul-e-Charkhi, where a compound of foreign forces is based.

Six men have entered the building in Sherpur, police sources told ToloNews.
Tags Kabul
1 hour 1 min ago - Afghanistan

ISAFmediaISAF confirming multiple attacks across #Kabul, potentially 7 locations, ANSF & ISAF responding as needed. No reports of casulaties.Sun Apr 15 10:35:02 2012

HabibKhanTFour civilians wounded so far in Paktia attack, fighting still going on, bombers equipped with PK, RPGs & suicide vests #AfghanistanSun Apr 15 10:34:19 2012
Tags Kabul, Paktia
1 hour 8 min ago - Afghanistan

A spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry confirmed two attacks in Kabul, one Gardez city of Paktya province, and one in Jalalabad city of Nangrahar province and another attack in Logar province.

Sediq Sediqqi, speaking to ToloNews, said there were no reports of casualties yet.

He confirmed that some of the assailants are holed up in buildings in Kabul, but are surrounded by police.



WaheedMassoudAttackers have gone into 2 buildings in Logar, firing at governors office, police HQ, NATO base, etc. city empty, no info on casualteis.Sun Apr 15 10:26:23 2012
Tags Gardez, Kabul, Logar, Paktia
1 hour 44 min ago - Afghanistan

Rockest have been fired at the Afghan parliament and the Russian embassy, a parliamentary spokesman tells Reuters news agency.

bsarwary#AFG Afghan officials&shopkeepers Darul Aman: 6 attackers armed with RPGS&Heavy Machine guns have taken over a buildingSun Apr 15 09:52:20 2012

BetteDamTOLO: Suicide attackers inside Kabul Star Hotel. 'Hotel is surrounded by police now'.Sun Apr 15 09:57:02 2012
Tags Kabul
1 hour 58 min ago - Afghanistan

Eyewitness reports suggest the attacks began around Zanbaq Square, an intersection at the heart of the city. The presedential palace, foreign ministry, and several foreign embassies are nearby.

There are also reports of gunfire near the Afghan parliament, on the other side of the town, as well.

bsarwary#AFG Police&NDS officials: Attack going on close 2 parliament. Entire road blockedSun Apr 15 09:42:17 2012

PressistanA police official confirms an attack on the parliament. Several attackers exchange fire with police from a nearby builidingSun Apr 15 09:43:59 2012
Tags Kabul
2 hours 4 min ago - Afghanistan

At least seven large explosions and automatic gunfire rocked the central diplomatic area of Kabul on Sunday, Reuters witnesses said, and embassy alarms were sounding.

Gunfire appeared to be coming from various directions in the heavily barricaded diplomatic area of central Kabul close to
both the US and British embassies. Neither embassy were immediately available to comment.

HabibKhanTZanbaq square is surrounded by Camp eager, , UNAMA, Palace, German, Turkish & Iranian embassies, #Kabul Star Hotel & Azizi Bank #KabulattackSun Apr 15 09:34:54 2012

AmiriEhsanSources say that government facilities and hotels have come under gunmen attacks in Kabul. via @TOLOnewsSun Apr 15 09:36:21 2012
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Smoke seen rising from the German embassy in Kabul; Russian embassy and Afghan parliament targeted by rockets - @AJELive, @Reuters
8m Al Jazeera English Al Jazeera English ‏ @AJEnglish

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Taliban claims responsibility for attacks in #Kabul. Visit our #Afghanistan Live Blog for latest updates: http://aje.me/HAi6hv
19m Reuters Top News Reuters Top News ‏ @Reuters

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Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says attacks are the beginning of insurgent spring offensive #Kabul
19m CNN Breaking News CNN Breaking News ‏ @cnnbrk

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U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, on lockdown after explosions and gunfire in the area. http://on.cnn.com/IroTrK
27m Neal Mann Neal Mann ‏ @fieldproducer

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Reuters reporting that Afghan MPs say some lawmakers have joined security forces repelling attackers from roof near Afghan parliament #Kabul
47m Breaking News Breaking News ‏ @BreakingNews

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US Embassy in Kabul says attacks are ongoing in the vicinity of the embassy - @Reuters
53m CNN Breaking News CNN Breaking News ‏ @cnnbrk

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Attackers take over hotel in central Kabul, Afghanistan, police say. http://on.cnn.com/IroTrK
55m Marvi Sirmed Marvi Sirmed ‏ @marvisirmed

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Thoughts with Afghan brothers and sisters. Multiple attacks on Kabul make it clear where the Qatar process has led us to. #WeToldYouSo NATO!
1h RT RT ‏ @RT_com

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Taliban claim responsibility for the assault on NATO base, parliament and number of diplomatic residences in Kabul http://on.rt.com/h5x5pe
1h Al Jazeera English Al Jazeera English ‏ @AJEnglish

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Explosions and gunfire reported in Kabul http://aje.me/IoMgEA
1h Bilal Sarwary Bilal Sarwary ‏ @bsarwary

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#AFG Afghan intelligence officials: We are dealing with attacks in several provinces& 3 in Kabul. These are coordinated attacks by enemy
1h Bilal Sarwary Bilal Sarwary ‏ @bsarwary

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#AFG Afghan intelligence officials: We are dealing with a series of coordinated attacks 2 in Kabul& in Jalalabad
1h RT RT ‏ @RT_com

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BREAKING, details: Russian embassy and Afghan parliament targeted by rockets in Kabul - reports http://on.rt.com/h5x5pe
1h Breaking News Breaking News ‏ @BreakingNews

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Rocket-propelled grenade hits residence of British diplomat in Kabul, witness says - @Reuters
1h RT RT ‏ @RT_com

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BREAKING: Series of blasts, rocket fire rock Kabul diplomatic area http://on.rt.com/h5x5pe
1h CNN Breaking News CNN Breaking News ‏ @cnnbrk

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Gunfire, explosions heard in central Kabul near area that's home to several diplomatic offices, including U.S., British embassies
1h Al Arabiya English Al Arabiya English ‏ @AlArabiya_Eng

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#BreakingNews: Several attackers enter Afghan parliament in Kabul: official
1h Al Arabiya English Al Arabiya English ‏ @AlArabiya_Eng

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#BreakingNews: Suicide bombers take over Kabul hotel, launch rocket and rifle fire: witnesses
2h Bilal Sarwary Bilal Sarwary ‏ @bsarwary

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#AFG Security officials: At least 6 attackers involved in attack close 2 parliament in Western Kabul. Serious gun battle going on.
2h Reuters Top News Reuters Top News ‏ @Reuters

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Gunfire, seven explosions rock central Kabul http://reut.rs/HDxOaA
2h Reuters India Reuters India ‏ @ReutersIndia

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FLASH: Loud explosions rock central Kabul, sporadic gunfire continuing: Reuters witnesses
2h Reuters India Reuters India ‏ @ReutersIndia

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Gunfire, seven explosions rock central Kabul http://reut.rs/IWapBu
2h NDTV NDTV ‏ @ndtv

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Blast in Kabul: Reports of attack on Kabul five star hotel
2h NDTV NDTV ‏ @ndtv

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Reports: Gunfire & explosion heard in diplomatic area of Kabul
2h Kabul Pressistan Kabul Pressistan ‏ @Pressistan

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Kabul attack update: Kabul Star hotel on Charhi Zanbaq is on fire. More gunshots and blast are heard
2h Ehsanullah Amiri Ehsanullah Amiri ‏ @AmiriEhsan

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Four suicide men in Zambaq square, ongoing gun firings #Kabul
2h Lotfullah Najafizada Lotfullah Najafizada ‏ @LNajafizada

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An NDS facility and a hotel under attack in Kabul, sources said.
2h Kabul Pressistan Kabul Pressistan ‏ @Pressistan

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More gunfire and blasts. Witnesses say it's near Kabul Star hotel near camp eagers, palace, UN office and US embassy
2h Bilal Sarwary Bilal Sarwary ‏ @bsarwary

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#AFG Heard several blast in Central Kabul
2h Amie Ferris-Rotman Amie Ferris-Rotman ‏ @Amiefr_Reuters

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Kabul Star hotel being attacked, Reuters witness says
2h TOLOnews TOLOnews ‏ @TOLOnews

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Breaking News: Blast and gunfire heard in Kabul.
2h Habib Khan Totakhil Habib Khan Totakhil ‏ @HabibKhanT

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Just heard an explosion, probably RPG fire next to British embassy #Kabul #Afghanistan
2h thomas_wiegold thomas_wiegold ‏ @thomas_wiegold

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RT @HamidShalizi: Witnesses say gunfire and a small explosion heard near British Embassy, close to Spinneys supermarket #Kabul.
2h Breaking News Breaking News ‏ @BreakingNews

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Explosion and gunfire heard in the diplomatic area of central Kabul, witnesses say - @ReutersIndia
2h Al Arabiya English Al Arabiya English ‏ @AlArabiya_Eng

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Automatic gunfire and a small explosion rocks the central diplomatic area of #Kabul #AlArabiya
2h Sky News Newsdesk Sky News Newsdesk ‏ @SkyNewsBreak

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Reuters: Gunfire and explosion heard in diplomatic area in centre of Afghan capital Kabul
2h Reuters India Reuters India ‏ @ReutersIndia

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FLASH: Gunfire, explosion heard in central Kabul diplomatic area: Reuters witnesses
20h Guardian news Guardian news ‏ @guardiannews

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Afghans march in Kabul to demand justice for women http://gu.com/p/36qxm/tf
21h Bilal Sarwary Bilal Sarwary ‏ @bsarwary

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#AFG 28 bus stops for 5 million people? Transport ministry: We will be building 28 bus stops in Kabul city in near future.
13 Apr Ayesha Tammy Haq Ayesha Tammy Haq ‏ @tammyhaq

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@rahimkhan so true. Went to Kabul in 2007 really liked it.
In reply to Rahim Khan
12 Apr christinalamb christinalamb ‏ @christinalamb

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Kabul has only 1% of Taliban attacks becos it naturally protected by mountains & only 4 roads in http://on.wsj.com/ISzYCR via @WSJ
9 Apr Skateistan Skateistan ‏ @Skateistan

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A picture is worth a 1000 words - girls shredding in #Kabul #Afghanistan http://yfrog.com/kg4gnyjtj
Retweeted 52 times
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12 Apr christinalamb christinalamb ‏ @christinalamb

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O'Hanlon & Riedel arguing Afghanistan Is safer than u think, Kabul safer than Karachi & Baghdad http://on.wsj.com/ISzYCR via @WSJ
12 Apr Una Moore Una Moore ‏ @UnaDispatch

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On Saturday in Kabul, @ywcafghanistan will hold a demonstration against violence against women. 10 AM, Karte Char, in front of French Bakery

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Karzai says NATO failed as 18-hr Kabul attack ends
Mon, Apr 16 08:51 AM EDT
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1 of 11

By Rob Taylor and Hamid Shalizi

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Monday that a coordinated Taliban attack showed a "failure" by Afghan intelligence and especially by NATO, as heavy street fighting between insurgents and security forces came to an end after 18 hours.

Battles which broke out at midday on Sunday gripped the city's central districts through the night, with large explosions and gunfire lighting up alleys and streets.

"The fact terrorists were able to enter Kabul and other provinces was an intelligence failure for us and especially for NATO," Karzai's office said in a statement, which also strongly condemned the attack.

Though the death toll was relatively low considering the scale of the assault, it highlighted the ability of militants to strike at high-profile targets in the heart of the city even after more than 10 years of war.

Karzai echoed his Western backers by praising Afghan security forces, saying they had proven their ability to defend their country - a task which will increasingly fall to them as foreign armies reduce their troop numbers in Afghanistan.

His office said 36 insurgents were killed in the attacks which paralyzed Kabul's government district, and which targeted three other provinces in what the Taliban called the start of a spring offensive. One fighter was captured.

Eleven members of the Afghan security forces and four civilians were killed in the well-planned attacks in Kabul and the eastern Nangarhar, Logar and Paktia provinces, it said.

"In only a short time we managed to cut short their devilish plans," said Defense Ministry Chief of Operations Afzal Aman. "They carried suicide vests, but managed to do nothing except be killed."

The attacks were also another election-year setback in Afghanistan for U.S. President Barack Obama, who wants to present the campaign against the Taliban as a success before the departure of most foreign combat troops by the end of 2014.

Insurgents were killed attacking the Afghan parliament, and in a multi-storey building under construction that they had occupied to fire rocket-propelled grenades and rifles down on the heavily fortified diplomatic enclave.

More were killed in Kabul's east, and while attacking a NATO base in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

Fighting in the capital only ended with special forces assaults which were mounted as dawn broke.

Assisting physically for the first time in the attack, NATO helicopters launched strafing attacks ((To attack (ground troops, for example) with a machine gun or cannon from a low-flying aircraft.)) on gunmen in the building site, which overlooked the NATO headquarters and several embassies, including the British and German missions.

Elite Afghan soldiers scaled scaffolding to outflank the insurgents, who took up defensive positions on the upper floor of the half-built structure. Bullets ricocheted off walls, sending up puffs of brick dust.

"I could not sleep because of all this gunfire. It's been the whole night," said resident Hamdullah.

The assault, which began with attacks on embassies, a supermarket, a hotel and the parliament, was one of the most serious on the capital since U.S.-backed Afghan forces removed the Taliban from power in 2001.

STRIKE ON THE DIPLOMATIC ZONE

The Taliban claimed responsibility, but some officials said the Haqqanis, a network of ethnic Pashtun tribal militants allied with the Taliban, who live along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, were likely involved.

"My guess, based on previous experience here, is this is a set of Haqqani network operations out of North Waziristan and the Pakistani tribal areas," American Ambassador Ryan Crocker told CNN.

North Waziristan, in Pakistan, is a notorious militant hub.

"Frankly I don't think the Taliban is good enough," Crocker said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the assaults in Kabul and three eastern provinces marked the beginning of a new warm-weather fighting season.

"These attacks are the beginning of the spring offensive and we had planned them for months," Mujahid told Reuters.

He said the onslaught was revenge for a series of incidents involving U.S. troops in Afghanistan - including the burning of copies of the Koran at a NATO base, and the massacre of 17 civilians by a U.S. soldier - and vowed there would be more.

The Taliban said on Sunday the main targets were the German and British embassies and the headquarters of the NATO-led force. Several Afghan members of parliament joined security forces in repelling attackers from a roof near parliament.

The attacks came a month before a NATO summit at which the United States and its allies want to put the finishing touches to plans for the transition to Afghan security control, and days before a meeting of defense and foreign ministers in Brussels to prepare for the alliance summit in Chicago.

Western combat troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014, under a plan to hand over responsibilities to Afghan forces.

But those forces are plagued by poor discipline, and they have apparently failed to learn lessons from a similar assault in Kabul last September, when insurgents took up a position in a tall building under construction to attack embassies and NATO offices below.

Hours before the Kabul attack, in neighboring Pakistan dozens of Islamist militants stormed a prison in the dead of night and freed nearly 400 inmates, including one on death row for trying to assassinate former President Pervez Musharraf.

(Writing by Rob Taylor and Amie Ferris-Rotman, Editing by Robert Birsel and Daniel Magnowski)

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