Police storm Kabul bank and kill three

Police stormed a bank in Kabul today and killed three insurgents as a wave of violence hit Afghanistan before tomorrow's presidential election.

At least six election workers were killed in attacks around the country.

The three armed men took over a branch of the Pashtani bank in Kabul's old city early today. Police surrounded the building, exchanging shots with the attackers.

The sound of gunfire and explosions reverberated through the city for several hours until police stormed the building and killed the men.

The attacks by the Taliban and their militant allies are designed to disrupt the election, in which President Hamid Karzai faces three main challengers.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said 20 armed suicide attackers wearing explosive vests had entered Kabul and that five of them had been involved in gunfights with police.

Security forces took reporters into a nearby compound and showed them the bullet-riddled bodies of the three insurgents killed in the clash.

The Taliban said it was closing roads countrywide and "bore no responsibility for whoever gets hurt".