Afghan attacks mark start of Taliban 'spring offensive'

KABUL: The Taliban began their annual "spring offensive" Monday with a series of attacks across Afghanistan, including a suicide strike on government offices in Jalalabad and rockets fired at two airports.

At least two suicide bombers entered the provincial justice department in Jalalabad, officials said, triggering a stand-off with security forces in the eastern city which has been hit by regular insurgent attacks.

It was not immediately clear whether the pair had detonated their explosives.

Two rockets exploded near Kabul airport at 5:00 am (0030 GMT), the exact time that the insurgents had vowed to start a new nationwide operation against US-led foreign forces and Afghan government facilities.

There were no confirmed casualties in either attack. But three people, including one policeman, were killed in Ghazni province southwest of Kabul when Taliban insurgents targeted several police checkpoints.

"Three people have been killed, one policeman and two women," Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, Ghazni´s deputy governor told. "Eight others were wounded, two police and six civilians.

"Four rockets were also fired at Bagram airport, the biggest NATO military base in Afghanistan, which lies north of Kabul.

NATO´s International Security Assistance Force confirmed it was investigating the attack.

"A vacant building and some equipment were damaged," a spokesman said. "There were no casualties."

Taliban leaders said last week that the offensive, which would be the last before NATO combat troops withdraw from Afghanistan, would cleanse "the filth of the infidels" from the country.

Sediq Sediqqi, the interior ministry spokesman, confirmed that two rockets fell outside Kabul airport but caused no casualties.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the spate of attacks via a recognised Twitter account, and said many other strikes had been carried out during the day.- Bombings and firefights -The group said ambushes, bombings and firefights in provinces including Nimroz, Kapisa, Zabul, Patika and Paktika had killed several US soldiers and Afghan police and soldiers.

The Taliban often exaggerate attacks and death tolls.