Afghan police suppress Taliban attack on Presidential palace

(Vatican Radio) Afghan forces have put down an early morning attack by Taliban insurgents on the presidential palace in Kabul.
Dozens of explosions and gunshots were reported as militants clashed with security personnel at the palace's eastern gate, the defense ministry and a CIA station. All three buildings are located in the central district of Shash Darak, what was believed to have been one of the most secure and strictly patrolled areas of the Afghan capital.
Afghan police report that all of the attackers have now been killed. The Taliban have claimed responsability.
Dozens of journalists had gathered for a news conference with President Karzai scheduled for 09:00 near the place of the attack.
The incident comes days after President Hamid Karzai raised objections about US-backed peace talks with the Taliban. He said the High Peace Council, the government body set up to lead peace efforts, would not take part unless the process was "Afghan-led".
On Monday U.S. envoy James Dobbins, arrived in Kabul to help the Afghan government and the Taliban pursue peace.
The talks to end 12 years of war between the Taliban insurgency and international and Afghan forces ran into difficulties over the opening of a Taliban office in the Gulf
emirate of Qatar.