Kabul  - Afghan security forces have surrounded an area in the western part of Kabul after they exchanged fire with suspected gunmen who were holed up in a house on Wednesday morning, the Interior Ministry said.

"Based on information that police and intelligence sources received, we have surrounded a house early this morning in the Deh Bori area of Kabul, where some anti-government elements are hiding," Zemarai Bashary, the Interior Ministry spokesman, said.

"There was some exchange of fire between the security forces and them (gunmen) early this morning, but our forces are trying to arrest the men alive," Bashary said.

Bashary did not give any details regarding the identities of the people hiding in the house, but another security official near the scene said, "we suspect that the people hiding in the house have links with Sunday attackers."

On Sunday at least three assailants tried to kill President Karzai during a military parade marking the defeat of Soviet occupation forces by the Mujahideen, or holy warriors. Karzai survived the attack, but three others, including a lawmaker, were killed and a dozen more wounded.

Wednesday's operation started at around 2 am, mainly by Afghan intelligence security forces and a special protection team of President Hamid Karzai, said the official, who did not want to be named.

The area where the standoff against the suspected gunmen was taking place is a heavily populated neighborhood in the western part of the Kabul city.

Traffic was being held back all around the area and people who coming out of the surrounded locality were subjected to strict security checks. (dpa)