Taliban militants have carried out suicide attacks on several government buildings in Khost, eastern Afghanistan, police say.
A gun battle broke out between security forces and the fighters who launched co-ordinated attacks on the police chief's office, a hospital and a bank.
Militants were using machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades, and there were reports of casualties.
It comes amid a spike of violence ahead of elections on 20 August.
A doctor at Khost hospital said seven civilians and three police were injured.
It was unclear how many attackers were involved, but Zabihullah Mujahid who claims to be a Taliban spokesman told the BBC from unknown location: "Four of our attackers had entered the city this afternoon."
Khost provinical police chief Abdul Qayum Baqizai told the BBC seven suicide bombers attacked various sites, including one who detonated a bomb-laden car near a military hospital.
One hospital guard was injured in that attack.
Another attacker was shot by security personnel close to Kabul Bank, and another was shot close to a government guesthouse, he said.
Mr Baqizai said the rest, dressed in border police uniforms, tried to enter the police chief's office but "our forces opened fire and killed them all".
A gun battle broke out between security forces and the fighters who launched co-ordinated attacks on the police chief's office, a hospital and a bank.
Militants were using machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades, and there were reports of casualties.
It comes amid a spike of violence ahead of elections on 20 August.
A doctor at Khost hospital said seven civilians and three police were injured.
It was unclear how many attackers were involved, but Zabihullah Mujahid who claims to be a Taliban spokesman told the BBC from unknown location: "Four of our attackers had entered the city this afternoon."
Khost provinical police chief Abdul Qayum Baqizai told the BBC seven suicide bombers attacked various sites, including one who detonated a bomb-laden car near a military hospital.
One hospital guard was injured in that attack.
Another attacker was shot by security personnel close to Kabul Bank, and another was shot close to a government guesthouse, he said.
Mr Baqizai said the rest, dressed in border police uniforms, tried to enter the police chief's office but "our forces opened fire and killed them all".
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