Suicide bomb and gun attacks have hit central Kabul, with a string of blasts targeting the US embassy and at least one death reported in a suicide attack in the west of the Afghan capital.
Gunmen are holed up in a high-rise building overlooking the city centre, exchanging gunfire with police. The Taliban say they are behind the attacks.
The violence comes weeks after suicide attackers stormed the city's British Council office, killing 12 people.
The total number of people killed or injured is unclear, as the attacks are still ongoing.
One policeman was reportedly killed and two others injured in the west of the city.
Separately, the Afghan health ministry has told the Reuters news agency that one civilian was killed and 16 wounded in the attacks.
Co-ordinated attack Tuesday's attacks appear to be a complex operation, with a number of suicide bombers targeting Kabul's upmarket embassy district, while others struck the west of the city, near the parliament.
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It does not matter how secure those buildings are, the insurgents are still managing to cause chaos in the city.
The Taliban have already issued a statement saying that at least four suicide attackers are involved in this assault on government ministries and the intelligence headquarters in this district.
As well as reports that insurgents have taken refuge in a high-rise building overlooking the entire area, we are also getting reports that there may be another two attackers wandering the streets, so people have taken cover.
At the scene
The Taliban have shown consistently that they can attack right at the heart of the Afghan government and the international mission.It does not matter how secure those buildings are, the insurgents are still managing to cause chaos in the city.
The Taliban have already issued a statement saying that at least four suicide attackers are involved in this assault on government ministries and the intelligence headquarters in this district.
As well as reports that insurgents have taken refuge in a high-rise building overlooking the entire area, we are also getting reports that there may be another two attackers wandering the streets, so people have taken cover.
A Taliban spokesman said the group was carrying out "a massive suicide attack on local and foreign intelligence facilities" at Kabul's Abdul Haq roundabout.
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, in Kabul, says one suicide attacker was also shot dead on Tuesday by the security forces as he was on his way to the airport.The international Nato-led force in Afghanistan, Isaf, said there were no reports of Isaf casualties so far.
A "small group of insurgents attacked the vicinity of the US Embassy" and Isaf headquarters, the force said in a statement.
"Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces immediately responded to the attack, and are still on the scene. Coalition forces are providing air support."
Nato's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen condemned the violence, describing it as an an attempt to test the handover of Afghanistan's security to Afghan-led forces, an attempt that would not succeed.
"We have confidence in the Afghan authorities' ability to deal with this situation," said Mr Rasmussen in Brussels. "Transition is on track and it will continue."
Around five attackers are coordinating their operation from the high rise building which is under construction just 300m from the US embassy, correspondents say, with a rocket-propelled grenade apparently overshooting the embassy.
US officials confirmed the attack around the embassy. "There are no casualties at this time among embassy personnel," said a spokeswoman.
US marines were seen on the roof of the embassy building assessing the situation and checking their defences were robust, correspondents say. Military helicopters are in the area.
Twisted metal One witness, Mohammad Zada, said he was driving past the US embassy building when the attack started, adding that he heard five explosions.
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Eyewitness Himanshu Sharma describes the scene from his office in Kabul
Video footage showed a group of men taking shelter from gunfire - one with blood pouring from his arm - as sirens wailed through the city.
Another eyewitness, Himanshu Sharma, told the BBC: "I thought it would be over in a few minutes, but then one hour and then two hours and then three hours passed - it was just not stopping.
"The gunshots were increasing, and their intensity was increasing. They were using more deadly weapons."
He went on: "There is no security at all in Kabul. This is the safest area, and if we are not safe here, then we are not safe anywhere in Afghanistan. "
Iranian Press TV said its office in Kabul had been attacked and one person was injured.
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Recent Kabul attacks
- August 2011: Gunmen storm British Council HQ, killing 12 people
- June 2011: Seven people killed in gun and bomb attack at Intercontinental Hotel
- April 2011: Two soldiers killed after gunman opens fire inside defence ministry
- Jan 2011: Eight killed by suicide bomber at Kabul Finest supermarket
- Feb 2010: At least 17 people killed in gun and bomb attack on foreign guesthouse district
- Jan 2010: 12 dead in attack on government targets and shopping malls
The Afghan security forces - both the police and a quick reaction force from the Afghan army - have sealed off streets in the upmarket district and urged residents to stay away from windows.
As well as housing the US and other foreign missions, the area is home to a number of government ministry buildings and the presidential palace. The Taliban said they also carried out that hours-long attack on 19 August to mark the anniversary of Afghanistan's independence from the UK in 1919.
This year has seen the most bloodshed in Afghanistan since US-led forces toppled the Taliban in 2001.
The violence has intensified since July, when Nato began the long process of handing power over to Afghan forces. Most international troops are scheduled to leave by 2015, provided Afghan forces are ready to take over security.
taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14897358
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