KABUL (PAN): At least 17 people, including foreigners, have been killed and more than three dozens of others wounded in a series of suicide, bomb and gun attacks near a hotel and guest houses used by foreigners in the heart of Kabul City on Friday, officials said.

One of the explosions occurred inside a guesthouse leased by Indian embassy in the downtown Sharh-i-Naw, killing five Indian nationals and wounding eight others.

Two other explosions that damaged a high-rise hotel, Safi Landmark, were described as suicide bombings that also killed two policemen near the Kabul City Center, a nine-story shopping area that includes the luxury hotel

Crime branch chief, Syed Abdul Ghafar Syedzada, told Pajhwok Afghan News two bombers exploded themselves in front of the shopping centre and another two were shot dead by police.

He said foreigners and civilians were among those killed and wounded. Gen. Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the commander of 3rd police zone was wounded in the attacks and his three guards were killed, said Ghaffar.

According to Ghaffar, the attacks began about 6:30am and the situation was brought under control at 10:30am.

More than two hours after the first explosion, gunfire continued to ring out around one of the guest houses. Police with gas masks were attempting to smoke out a suspected attacker holed up in the basement of the building.

Witnesses said one explosion created a crater-about 3 feet (1 meter) wide-in front of the guest house, which was destroyed. Another guest house was heavily damaged, and the windows of the hotel were blown out.

Kabul hospitals director Sayed Kabir Amiry said seven bodies had been transported to military hospitals. He said more than 20 people were wounded.

Workers at the hotel said they saw foreigners were crying and shouting.

The blasts occurred on the first day of the weekend when fewer people are on the streets.

A large plume of black smoke rose from the area. A building was on fire in front of the four-star hotel, which is close to most government offices. Shattered glass covered the streets. Afghan police, armed with Kalashnikov rifles, moved in, taking cover in the doorways of shops.

About 17 wounded people were shifted to the Emergency Hospital, one to Jamhuriat Hospital, ‎three to the Aliabad, seven to 400-bed hospital and two others to the National Directorate of Security Hospital. Doctors say seven ‎injured people were in a critical condition.

Interior Ministry spokesman Zamaray Bashari said security officials shot dead two suicide bombers after two others attacked the Kabul City Centre at 7am. However, he had no information about casualties.

Pajhwok reporters from the scene said dozens of shops, including the Hamid Hotel, where the Indians were staying, have been badly damaged and the windowpanes of several others nearby buildings shattered in the gunfire and blasts. The Indian Embassy in Kabul has twice become under attack over the past two years, leaving dozens of casualties.

The Indian government blamed Pakistans Inter-Service Intelligence Agency (ISI) for both of the suicide bombings, but the Pakistani government denied the accusations.

Taliban have asserted responsibility for the attacks, which also drew condemnation from President Hamid Karzai and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the target of the attacks was Safi Landmark Hotel, where foreigners had been staying.

He claimed several foreigners were killed when one of the bombers detonated his explosives at the hotel. Several policemen and foreigners are dead in the attack, he added.

It was the first attack in the Afghan capital since January 18, when teams of suicide bombers and gunmen targeted government buildings, leaving 12 dead, including seven attackers.

Also, on Dec. 15, a suicide car bomber hit near a hotel frequented by foreigners, killing 8 people. In Oct. 28, gunmen with suicide vests stormed a guest house, leaving 11 dead, including 5 UN staff and 3 attackers. Earlier that month, on Oct. 8, a suicide car bomber detonated his vehicle outside the Indian Embassy, killing 17 people.

ma/myn