Three police were killed Sunday after at least three insurgents equipped with suicide vests and assault rifles attacked a government building in south-eastern Afghanistan, officials said.
The attackers seized several rooms inside the traffic police station in Khost city, the capital for the province of the same name, Abdul Hakim Eshaqzai, the provincial police chief, said.
At least three other policemen and one civilian were injured as security forces backed by coalition troops exchanged fire with attackers barricaded inside the building, he said.
Local media said police also found an explosive-laden vehicle in front of the station and that the battle was ongoing, DPA reported.
Television footage also showed US and Afghan forces surrounding the building, from which thick smoke was billowing.
The Taliban took responsibility for Sunday's attack.
The attack came a day after two bombers breached security barriers and attacked a fortified military hospital in Kabul city. The bombing left six medical students and workers dead and about 30 injured.
The recent wave of suicide attacks come ahead of a planned gradual transition of security from NATO-led troops to local forces to begin in July. Afghan security forces are expected to take the overall security responsibility by the end of 2014.
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