17 killed in two attacks in Afghanistan

Two militant attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul and the Kunar provincial capital of Assadabad left 17 people dead and 19 others injured on Tuesday, officials confirmed.

The militants armed with suicide bomb vests and firearms raided the sub-office of Afghan election commission in Darul Aman area in western Kabul at 11:30 a.m. local time leaving 10 people including five attackers dead.

"All five attackers have been killed by police," Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi said.

He admitted that five people including two policemen lost their lives in the counter attack.

Sediqi also stated that all those held hostages inside the election compound by the attackers have been rescued by police.

Taliban outfit claimed responsibility for the attack, insisting 20 election workers were killed, a claim rejected by police as baseless.

In a similar attack conducted by militants in Assadabad, the capital of eastern Kunar province, two suicide bombers entered a local branch of the Kabul Bank at around 11:00 a.m. local time and triggered gun battle.

According to provincial police cheif Abdul Habib Sayedkhili, the police were able to kill both attackers.

However, he confirmed that five people including a police were killed and 16 others mostly civilians sustained injuries.

The attack took place when scores of government employees were waiting outsied the bank to receive their salaries.

No group or individuals have claimed responsibility for the attack.