Militants killed after attack on Afghan election office in Kabul

Four-hour stand off brought to an end after militants used burkas to sneak into building

A policeman arrives at the Independent Election Commission office during the attack by insurgents (Reuters)

An Afghan interior ministry official said that five militants who attacked the election commission headquarters in Kabul with rocket propelled grenades and machine guns have been killed, ending a four-hour stand off.

Deputy Interior Minister Mohammed Ayub Salangi said two policemen were injured in the attack. There were no casualties among the dozens of Independent Election Commission staff and other people on the heavily fortified compound.

Mr Salangi said the five insurgents wore the all-encompassing burka to sneak unnoticed into a building that looked onto the heavily fortified Independent Election Commission headquarters.

It is the latest in a series of high-profile attacks that come as the Islamic militant movement steps up a campaign of violence to disrupt presidential elections due to be held in a week.

PA