KABUL (Reuters) - Several large explosions rocked a busy area in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Friday with Reuters witnesses describing shooting in the area.

There were at least four blasts interspersed by heavy shooting, a Reuters witness said.

The first blast was a suicide car bomb and occurred at about 4pm near an intersection in the district of Borj-e Sharahah, said Mr Hashmatullah Stanikzai, a spokesman for the Kabul police chief.

A Reuters witness described seeing two wounded policemen, though there was no official word on casualties.

A Taleban spokesman, Mr Zabihullah Mujahid, speaking to Reuters by telephone, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Gunfire began after the first bomb, with a second blast coming about 30 minutes later.

It was not clear what the attackers' target was, but the intersection is close to United Nations accommodation and the headquarters of the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF).

The APPF is an Afghan government-run security force.