Afghanistan's interior minister said Monday that three civilians, eight troops and 36 Taliban insurgents were killed during an 18-hour offensive in the capital and other cities, DPA reported.
"Forty security forces and 25 civilians were injured in the attacks," Bismillah Mohammadi said.
He said 16 rebel fighters had launched attacks in three areas of Kabul.
"Most of them travelled wearing a burka," Mohammadi said.
He said the Kabul siege lasted 18 hours because the "Afghan security forces were protecting the civilians in busy areas amid a lot of residences where the attacks took place."