The estimated two or three fighters holed up in the Kandahar Hotel were all that remained of a Taliban force that on Saturday unleashed a major assault on government buildings across the city.

Spokesman Zemeri Bashary said the fire fight broke out when security forces began to clear the hotel, which is located next to the intelligence agency headquarters and a police station. The hotel had been used to stage Saturday's daylong attacks against the two buildings. Troops were being cautious because most of the insurgents were believed to be wearing suicide vests, he said.

NATO troops and helicopters could be seen supporting Afghan forces in the clash. Security forces were apparently waiting for the militants to run out of ammunition.

Fighting had stopped overnight after Afghan forces had secured the government buildings which had been attacked, Bashary added, although sporadic gunshots and explosions could be heard around the city.

So far, he said a total of 23 attackers had been killed as well as two members of the security forces. Another 40 people were wounded. Of the dead attackers, eight detonated their suicide vests. Security forces captured another four, Bashary added.