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AT least five people, including a child, were killed and about 40 injured today when Taliban insurgents launched co-ordinated attacks in the protected government area of Kabul.
The Taliban said 20 of its fighters, including suicide bombers, were involved in the assaults near the presidential palace.
The child and four members of the security forces were confirmed dead by the Afghan government.
Nato said at least two Taliban were killed in a gunfight at a shopping centre, in which insurgents were holed up after throwing grenades. Explosions caused the building to catch fire.
Two bombers died after detonating their explosives. The US embassy in Kabul said the attack was “clearly aimed at the Afghan government and innocent civilians”.
It began at about 10am local time as members of President Hamid Karzai's cabinet were being sworn in. The attack was the worst in the Afghan capital for three months and highlighted concerns at the ability of insurgents to hit supposedly secure buildings.
There was a series of blasts at the Feroshgah-e-Afghan shopping centre and Serena hotel, the city's only five-star hotel. These were followed by three hours of gun battles.
A car exploded near the ministry of education. Nato said it was working with Afghan security forces to “aggressively contain” the situation. The assault came as 37,000 US troops began to arrive in the country as part of a surge ordered by President Obama.
The Taliban said it had also targeted the Afghanistan National Bank — which backs onto the presidential palace —Department of Judicial Affairs and Ministry of Mines.
There was a reported attack on the presidential gates, while a suicide bomber was said to have killed and injured several people near the foreign ministry.
Afghan troops also surrounded a cinema and opened fire on militants believed to be inside. A police officer said the fighting ended after the last suicide attacker blew himself up.
