Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Militants Attack Afghan Spy Agency's Facility in Kabul

by Ayaz Gul

   Heavily armed militants attacked an Afghan intelligence agency facility
   in Kabul Monday, sparking fierce clashes with security forces.

   Afghan officials said several assailants wearing police uniforms
   stormed and occupied a partially constructed building before firing
   rockets at the nearby training center of the National Directorate of
   Security, or NDS.

   Afghan special forces swiftly arrived and encircled the building to try
   to neutralize the attackers, interior ministry spokesman Nusrat Rahimi
   told VOA. He had no immediate information on whether there were any
   casualties.

   Residents in nearby areas have reported hearing several back-to-back
   explosions from the area in Kabul where militant siege is underway.

   So far, neither the Taliban insurgency nor any other militant group has
   claimed responsibility for the attack.

   Meanwhile, Afghan officials in the western province of Badghis have
   confirmed that Taliban insurgents ambushed a security convoy early
   Monday morning and killed the police commander of the remote Aab Kamari
   district.

   The slain Abdul Rasoul and his men were ambushed while they were on
   their way reportedly to help security forces at an outpost under attack
   from the Taliban.

   Monday's violence came a day after insurgents assaulted security posts
   in the southern province of Helmand, killing at least 14 Afghan police
   personnel.