(18 Jan 2010) SHOTLIST
QUALITY AS INCOMING
AP TELEVISION
1. Zoom in on building UPSOUND: Gunfire
2. Police car driving by, various police cars and officers in background UPSOUND: Gunfire
3. Police officers UPSOUND: Gunfire
4. Plume of smoke rising UPSOUND: Gunfire
5. Various of smoke rising over shopping centre building UPSOUND: Gunfire
6. Shopping centre on fire, zoom in to flames coming out of window UPSOUND: Gunfire
7. Various of building on fire UPSOUND: Gunfire
8. Various of people near fire site UPSOUND: Gunfire
9. Various of smoke coming out building UPSOUND: Gunfire
10. Close up of flames UPSOUND: Gunfire
11. Wide of street, police cars UPSOUND: Gunfire
12. Smoke rising from burning building UPSOUND: Gunfire
13. Building on fire UPSOUND: Gunfire
14. Large plume of smoke rising
STORYLINE
Taliban militants struck the heart of the Afghan government in Kabul on Monday, prompting fierce gunbattles after a suicide bomber blew himself up near the presidential palace.
More explosions rocked the capital as Afghan troops fought off the attackers.
A Taliban spokesman told The Associated Press that 20 armed militants, including some with suicide vests, had entered Kabul to target the presidential palace and other government buildings.
Fighting was raging hours later and one shopping centre was on fire.
It was the latest attack showing the insurgents'' ability to penetrate the heavily secured city - even near the presidential palace and government ministries.
Militants have become increasingly brazen in challenging Afghan and international forces as the US and NATO allies begin sending 37,000 more troops to join the fight.
The attack unfolded on a day in which confirmed Cabinet members were to be sworn in by President Hamid Karzai
despite the rejection by parliament of the majority of his choices.
His spokesman said the president would announce caretakers for the vacant posts.
The spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment about the Cabinet or the Afghan leader''s whereabouts.
Police sealed off a large area in the centre of Kabul as the sound of machine-gun fire echoed through the mountain-rimmed city. Helicopters buzzed overhead.
A car that exploded between a shopping centre and the Ministry of Education burned in the street.
One group of militants entered the shopping centre after throwing grenades inside to frighten shoppers, Interior Ministry spokesman Zemari Bashary said.
He said the area was surrounded by security forces and that a gunbattle was going on.
NATO, which said international forces were working with Afghan forces to secure the area, said Afghan troops had killed at least two armed insurgents while clearing a building at a shopping centre.
The Public Health Ministry reported at least nine people were wounded.
The Taliban spokesman claimed Afghan troops had been killed, but that could not be immediately confirmed.
The deputy governor of the central bank, said bank employees heard a strong explosion followed by gunfire. He said employees were safely inside and that no militants had entered the building.
Another huge explosion was heard less than two hours later at an intersection near the Education Ministry.
Afghan security forces surrounded the area, and fighting between the two sides was continuing. Ambulances transported the wounded from the scene.
The attack was reminiscent of an 28 October ambush against a Kabul guest house in which at least 11 people died, including five UN staff and three attackers.
A suicide car bomber also struck outside the Indian Embassy on 8 October, killing at least 17 people.
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