Suicide attack in central Kabul thwarted: Officials

KABUL: Afghan security forces shot dead a would-be suicide bomber in central Kabul on Monday outside an intelligence agency office and close to the EU mission, officials said.

The attacker, who was wearing military uniform, was killed as he approached the National Directorate of Security (NDS) office early in the morning.

The Afghan capital has been targeted regularly in recent weeks, with Taliban suicide attacks on the presidential palace, the Supreme Court, the airport and an international aid group.

"A suicide attacker wearing military uniform... who was intending to attack the Kabul branch office (of the NDS) in Chara-i-Sidarat was identified and brought down by security forces," the spy agency said in a statement.

"With the killing of this suicide attacker, a bloody terrorist attack was prevented."

The incident took place in one of the most high-security areas of Kabul, close to the interior ministry and Chicken Street, a popular shopping area for foreigners until the insurgency worsened several years ago. The European Union's mission is nearby.

Taliban rebels have stepped up attacks at the same time as the United States tries to revive a stalled peace process before 100,000 Nato troops leave Afghanistan next year.