Breaking: Gun Battle, Serial Bombing Rocks Kabul, Afghan Capital

Afghan security forces are battling gunmen following a suicide attack outside the Iraqi embassy in the capital, Kabul.

Four attackers targeted the complex in the central Shar-e-Naw neighbourhood, the Afghan interior ministry said.

A bomber blew himself up at the gate of the embassy, and three others entered the compound. No information has been provided about casualties.

So-called Islamic State (IS) said it carried out the attack.

Kabul has seen a number of deadly assaults this year blamed on either IS or the Taliban.

Correspondents say this is the first attack on the city’s Iraqi embassy. It comes two weeks celebrations were held there to mark the defeat of IS in the Iraqi city of Mosul.

All embassy employees were evacuated from the complex, the Afghan interior ministry said in a statement.

“Our forces are inside and a clearance operation is underway,” said spokesman Najib Danish.