Taliban militants have attacked the heart of the Afghan capital, setting off explosions and battling security forces.
At least four blasts shook a busy area of Kabul Friday, in the second major attack in the city in a little more than a week.
Shooting erupted in the area as militants and security forces engaged in a fierce gunbattle. Afghan officials say two of the attackers were killed.
Police say the first blast was a suicide bombing close to a hospital run by the state intelligence service and to the headquarters of the Afghan Public Protection Force.
The Taliban told Western media it carried out the attack.
Last week, a suicide car bombing in Kabul killed 15 people, including six Americans and nine Afghan civilians. Two of the Americans were soldiers.
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