'Afghan Presidential Palace compound attacked'

Kabul: Afghan Taliban insurgents have attacked the heavily-guarded palace compound of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a second statement on Sunday.

There was no independent verification of the claim.

Large explosions and heavy automatic gunfire continued to rock central Kabul as dusk approached, continuing a nearly five-hour gunbattle in locations across the country and in the diplomatic enclave of the capital.