Security forces put down bank attack, killing 3 militants in Kabul

Afghan counter-terrorism soldiers drag the dead body of a militant down the stairs of a bank in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.

KABUL, Aug. 19 -- Afghan security forces, after hours of clash with militants inside a bank building in capital city of Kabul, killed three intruders Wednesday morning, sources said.

"Three rebels were killed in clash with police and the situation is under control," a police officer told Xinhua but declined to be named.

A group of armed militants, appeared to be three or four, entered the building of a bank at 07:00 a.m. local time (GMT0230 and police begun operation to eliminate them, Interior Ministry Zamarai Bashari said earlier.

In talks with a private television channel Tolo, Bashari added that the intruders entered the building of a local bank, Pashtany Bank, and security forces opened fire and killed them.

However, some eye-witnesses believed that the intruders were Taliban militants.


Afghan security forces arrive at the scene of a gun battle in Afghanistan's capital Kabul August 19, 2009.

Meantime, an official with the Interior Ministry said that militants were killed and the situation is under control.

He added a statement would soon be released in this regard.

The purported Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed claimed responsibility adding the outfit has sent 20 suicide bombers into the capital and they would wait for orders to carry out attacks.

In an effort to make peaceful environment for election day, Afghan Foreign Ministry issued a statement Tuesday asking both local and international media to be refrained in reporting any violence and conflicts from 6 a.m. (GMT0130) to 8 p.m. (GMT1530) on Thursday.

Since Saturday, Kabul has been experiencing deadly suicide car blasts and rocket attacks which have left 14 civilians dead and over 140 others injured.

Afghanistan's second presidential election in the post-Taliban country is set for Aug. 20 as Taliban have vowed to thwart the electoral process.


Afghan security forces arrive at the scene of a gun battle in Afghanistan's capital Kabul August 19, 2009.
(Xinhua)