KANDAHAR: Afghan police officials say three insurgents tried to storm the former intelligence service headquarters in the southern city of Kandahar, prompting a fierce gun battle with security forces that left the attackers dead.

Deputy police chief Rahmatullah Atrafi says the three men assaulted the former headquarters in the heart of the city early on Wednesday.

The attackers were killed after a protracted gun battle, while the security forces suffered no casualties.

During the battle, many of the national intelligence troops had their faces hidden behind scarves to protect their identities.

Kandahar is the birthplace of the hard-line Taliban movement.

The city is heavily guarded by Afghan National Security Forces but the insurgents still manage to enter the city.