Kabul on alert after attacks

Afghanistan's capital has been put on high alert following one of the most co-ordinated offensives on Kabul since the Taliban were removed from power by a US-led invasion in 2001. Security was tight in Kabul on Tuesday, a day after Taliban fighters successfully penetrated the highly-fortified heart of the city, targeting key government buildings. Mohammad Khalil Dastyar, the deputy police chief, said troops were searching vehicles entering the capital and had increased the number of checkpoints in the city, as well as foot and vehicle patrols. Farouq Bashar, from Kabul university, "normal business" had resumed on the streets of Kabul. "People are still a little bit panicked. They are trying to stay away from fortified areas, afraid of another attack," he said. "The Taliban spokesman said they dispatched 20 suicide bombers to Kabul and only seven of them were killed. We don't know if the other 13 are alive, or where they are." US and Nato officials hailed local security forces for their defence of the capital. Anne Macdonald, a US brigadier general who works closely with the Afghan interior ministry, the Afghan national security forces "responded very well" to the attacks."They [security forces] were able to contain the situation within five hours," she said. "The damage could have been much worse - to individuals and to property. They have a long way to go but they are interested and motivated. They want to serve the people of Afghanistan."