All assailants dead in Kabul attack: police chief

All the Taliban militants who targeted the presidential palace and the CIA office in central Kabul on Tuesday morning died in the attack, Afghan police said.

Kabul police chief Mohammad Ayoub Salangi told reporters at the scene that all three or four militants had died.

He said they jumped out of their explosives-laden car before detonating it.

EARLIER

A series of explosions and gunfire have been heard outside the presidential palace in Kabul, one of the most heavily guarded areas in the Afghan capital.

Reporters gathering for an event early Tuesday with President Hamid Karzai counted at least a half dozen explosions outside the eastern gate of the palace but it was not immediate clear whether it was a suicide bomb attack, hand grenades or both. Small arms fire also could be heard.

Police had no immediate comment.

Taliban has taken responsibility for the attack.