Suicide bombers have struck in Kabul and other sites across Afghanistan. The attacks show that militants still remain a potent force capable of hitting at the heart of the capital.
The Taliban on Sunday launched a number of near-simultaneous attacks on at least seven sites in the Afghan capital, Kabul, as well as elsewhere in the country.
In Kabul, the militants have mainly attacked an area close to the embassies of Germany, the United States, Britain and Iran, as well as offices of the United Nations and other international organizations.
Smoke is rising from the diplomatic enclave in Kabul
The French, Turkish and Chinese embassies are not far from the site.
Bombs and gunfire have been heard in the diplomatic enclave. Militants also took over buildings and tried to enter parliament.
Parliamentary deputy Mohammad Naeem Lalai told the AFP news agency that lawmakers joined security forces in firing on militants as they tried to storm the parliament, which was in session.
At least two attackers have been killed in the Kabul attacks. Five people have also been wounded.
The Ministry of the Interior said 19 insurgents, including suicide bombers, died in the violence across the country. It said 14 police officers and nine civilians were injured.
"Spring offensive"
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying they were the beginning of what he called "our spring offensive."
In an e-mailed statement, Mujahid said, "In all these attacks, tens of Mujahedeen fighters equipped with light and heavy weapons, suicide vests, rocket propelled grenades, rockets, heavy machine guns and hand grenades are attacking their targets."
"Our initial reports indicate that a large number of foreign forces, Afghan police and army are killed and wounded," he said. The Taliban regularly exaggerate casualty figures.
The German foreign ministry said there was some damage in the grounds of the German Embassy, but that no one appeared to have been hurt.
A spokesman for the US embassy, Gavin Sundwall, said all staff there were accounted for and safe.
Outside the capital, militants also attacked government buildings in Logar province, the airport in Jalalabad and a police facility in the town of Gardez in Paktia province.
In September last year, Taliban militants killed at least 14 people during a 19-hour siege of targets including the US embassy and headquarters of foreign troops in Kabul. In August, nine people were killed when suicide bombers attacked the British Council cultural center.
tj/rc (AFP, AP, Reuters)
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