Intense gun battle between Taliban and Afghan forces going on in heart of Kabul

Kabul, Jan. 18 (ANI): An intense gun battle is going on between suspected Taliban militants and Afghan security forces in Kabul, near the presidential palace.

According to unconfirmed reports, one security person has died in the attack while several others have been injured.

Those present at the scene heard a series of explosions close to government ministry buildings, followed by shooting.

A statement on a Taliban website said 20 fighters, including suicide bombers, are involved in the attack, specifically targeted at government buildings and Serena Hotel located in the area.

Meanwhile, Nato's Isaf force said it was "working closely with our Afghan partners to aggressively contain the situation during which several small explosions were reported near the Feroshgah-e-Afghan shopping centre and the Serena Hotel".

Isaf said Afghan forces had reportedly killed at least two armed insurgents.

Streets in the centre of the city have been closed and hotels and government buildings have been locked down.

"It is a chaotic scene, we do not know what to do and where to go," BBC quoted one official trapped in a government building as saying.

The attack happened as some members of President Hamid Karzai's cabinet were being sworn in.