Security forces in eastern Afghanistan have killed two Taliban militants¹ who seized a building near a police station in the city of Gardez, officials say.

阿富汗东部城市加德兹保安部队杀死两名攻占警察局附近某建筑的塔利班武装人员。

A spokesman for the governor of Paktia province said a number of police and civilians² were injured. Fighting began early on Monday and went on for hours.

He told the BBC a search for three other militants was taking place.

The attackers were reportedly heavily armed and some were wearing suicide vests, the spokesman said.

Eastern Afghanistan has seen some of the worst violence in the Taliban-led insurgency叛乱，暴动.

Correspondents say co-ordinated gun and suicide attacks, usually targeting government officials and security installations设备，设施, have become increasingly common in Afghanistan.

Grenades

Monday's attack in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, began at about 9am (0430GMT) and fighting went on until after midday.

At least five militants seized a building near police headquarters in Gardez and began firing at security forces as they surrounded the building, reports quoting officials said.

Rohullah Samoon, a spokesman for the governor of Paktia, said the militants had been cornered in囤积 a market.

The Taliban said they had carried out the assault.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told the Associated Press that the five attackers had been targeting the police station.

He said all were wearing suicide vests and were armed with rocket-propelled grenades手榴弹.

In July, gunmen and suicide bombers³ targeted four sites in Gardez, among them the governor's compound.