Taliban attack provincial capital in Afghanistan

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Taliban fighters armed with suicide vests and automatic weapons have attacked a provincial capital in eastern Afghanistan. Seven militants were left dead from gunbattles that lasted hours.

US Marines of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade keep watch as a CH-53 helicopter flies past during a patrol in Garmsir district of Helmand province.(AFP/Shah Marai)

Saturday's militant attack in Khost began when at least six Taliban fighters stormed the area around the main police station and a nearby government-run bank.

All were shot and killed before they could detonate their suicide vests. A seventh attacker detonated a car rigged with explosives near a police rapid reaction force.

The Interior Ministry said no government forces were killed but 14 people were wounded - 11 civilians and three police.