Kabul, Sep 13 (IANS) Multiple blasts rocked the Afghan capital Tuesday and heavily armed Taliban militants wearing suicide vests targeted the US embassy, triggering a fierce gunfight. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up, and at least 10 people were injured.


India has condemned the attack, but said no Indian national was injured in the attack.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault.

In Char Rahi Abdul Haq area, close to the US embassy and NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters, the attackers occupied a tall building and targeted the US embassy, police officials told Xinhua. Six people were injured.

Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, a purported spokesman for the Taliban, told media via telephone from an unknown location that a group of Taliban fighters equipped with arms and suicide vests targeted the American embassy and other foreign agencies' offices in the vicinity.

Another Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, told CNN that they targeted "the US embassy, governmental organisations and other foreign organisations".

Four more people were injured when two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the western part of Kabul, the interior ministry said.

"Two policemen were injured when they intercepted a suicide bomber who intended to enter the police station in Dahmazang area, west of Kabul, at around 15:10 today," Xinhua quoted a ministry statement as saying.

Minutes later, another suicide bomber blew himself up near a school, also in the western part of Kabul. The school is located on the main road to the parliament building.

"Two people -- a policeman and a civilian -- were injured when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives strapped to his body in front of Habibia High School at around 15:15 today," the statement added.

The Taliban were driven from power in 2001 and have since carried out a string of terror strikes across the country.

Video footage Tuesday showed help being extended to a wounded man, with blood gushing out from his arm.

Security forces took up positions on the roads leading to the US embassy, which faced a massive bombing in November 2008 -- at least four civilians were killed then in the suicide bomb attack.

The embassy is located near government buildings and one of the city's major landmarks, Massoud Circle.

On Tuesday, the first explosion took place around 1.30 p.m. and it was quickly followed by the gun-battle.

BBC reported that it seemed to be a complex operation with a number of suicide bombers involved.

CNN said the US embassy issued an emergency message about the series of attacks, saying "the situation is uncertain and ongoing. There are media reports that many roads are closed in Kabul".

It said appointments for visas or US citizen services were cancelled for the time being and Americans in Afghanistan should monitor the websites of the embassy and the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs for the latest information.

"We urge US citizens to shelter in place, avoid unnecessary movement, and to avoid the neighbourhood around the US embassy -- Wazir Akbar Khan, Microrayon, and Massoud Circle," the advisory said.

"The embassy also urges US citizens to remain vigilant and avoid areas where Westerners congregate. Do not discuss travel plans or other personal matters with strangers, or in public. Be alert and aware of your surroundings, and always travel with mobile phones or appropriate communication equipment," it said.

On Aug 19, seven people, including two foreign nationals, were killed and five were injured in bomb and gun attacks at the British Council in Kabul as the country celebrated its 92nd Independence Day.

India, whose embassy in Kabul has twice come under terrorist attack, Tuesday condemned the attack by militants near the US embassy. It clarified that no Indian has been injured.

"India strongly condemns the incident. The attack is still going on. Security forces in that country are dealing with it," said a government source in New Delhi.

"All Indians are safe. The attack is not targeted at India or Indian interests," the source said.

Around 4,000 Indians are in Afghanistan and are engaged in a host of reconstruction activities, ranging from building roads and bridges to power stations.

India has pledged $2 billion for reconstruction of the violence-torn country.

Violence across Afghanistan has increased since US President Barack Obama announced in June the plans to withdraw 10,000 American troops from the country this year.

US soldiers will begin returning home in line with the deadline set by Obama in December 2009, when he authorised a surge of 33,000 troops to break the Taliban's control in Afghanistan.

All the troops sent in the surge will be pulled out by next summer, Obama has said.

The US has been the largest contributor to the 48-nation ISAF, which currently has more than 130,000 troops in Afghanistan.