Taliban suicide attacks in Kabul repulsed after 18 hours

A series of explosions are reported to have rocked central Kabul early today, soon after the Afghanistan government announced that its security had repulsed Taliban forces from the country's capital and three other provinces.

The explosions went on for a considerable time from last night into today and were accompanied with gunfire, according to reports from the troubled country.  The gunfire was concentrated in the area of Kabul which houses government offices and embassies. Afghan authorities said late Sunday that they were trying to dislodge insurgents holed up in an empty building near NATO's 'International Security Assistance Force'.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Seddiqi said this morning that the remaining insurgents "have no choice except surrendering or to be killed by the Afghan forces".

"They came today with more than 20 insurgents and suicide bombers and attacked four provinces," Seddiqi told CNN Sunday. "As a result, they got nothing, and 19 of them were killed."

Gen John Allen, the US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said the Afghans beat back the insurgents without allied assistance.

"They [NATO forces} were on scene immediately, well-led and well-coordinated," Allen said. "They integrated their efforts, helped protect their fellow citizens and largely kept the insurgents contained."