6 killed, 10 wounded in explosions, gun battles in Afghan capital

KABUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua)-- A series of explosions rocked Afghan capital Kabul Monday as militants penetrated downtown city and targeted important government buildings, leaving six people, including four insurgents dead and 10 others wounded, Defense Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi said.

A shopping center burns in central Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Jan. 18, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Those killed in the bloody attacks, according to Azimi, include a child, a police constable and four militants. He also said all those sustained injuries are innocent civilians.

One of the blasts occurred in Pashtunistan Square near the Presidential Palace gate which is close to the Ministry for Justice, Afghanistan's central bank building Da Afghanistan Bank and the five-star Kabul Serena Hotel.

A five-story superstore where militants had holed up was completely burned during the firefight. Two personnel of law enforcing agencies were injured in the Afghanistan's central bank, a police officer at the site said, but he declined to be named.

Azimi said that the operation is over and the situation is under control.

Moreover, a suicide bomber blew himself up next to the Foreign Ministry damaging a newly built shopping mall.

Meantime, witnesses put the number of casualties higher than reported.

A police at the site of the incident told Xinhua on the condition of anonymity that 32 persons were injured in the blasts and fire exchange between militants and security forces.

There are two journalists among those injured in the incident, the police officer said.

According to media report, the Public Health Ministry has confirmed five deaths and 38 injured in the bloody suicide bombings and gun battles.

Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in talks with media via cellular phone from undisclosed location claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying 20 suicide bombers entered the city to target government interests.

Afghan policemen stand in front of the shopping mall, where Taliban gunmen battled  security forces for hours, as the government forces restored control after the attack  in Kabul January 18, 2010.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)