Kabul  - No-confidence motions in parliament failed Tuesday to sack Afghanistan's defence, interior and intelligence chiefs after they failed to prevent an attack on the country's top leadership over the weekend.

The trio were impeached by legislators of the Lower House of Parliament after they were unable to explain why their forces could not foil the attack on Sunday during a ceremony in Kabul marking Mujahideen's victory over the Soviet occupation.

President Hamid Karzai and other Afghan and foreign high dignitaries attending in the gathering survived the rocket and gun shot attacks by the insurgents, but three people including a lawmaker were killed and a dozen more were wounded.

The three officials, Defence Minister General Abdul Rahim Wardak, Interior Minister Zarar Ahmad Muqbil and intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh, apologized for security lapses and admitted that their agencies failed to prevent the assassination bid despite months-long preparations.

The brazen attack was launched by three assailants, who were killed later in an encounter with Afghan security forces, from a rented room in an old hotel, Saleh told the lawmakers in a live telecast by Afghan state-run TV.

Saleh said that his agency had "technical information" that an attack would happen and that he had warned his and his national security adviser.

Saleh said that his agency arrested two groups, one of which had planned to attack the ceremony with mortar rounds and another group who had planned to carry out suicide attacks with three vehicle-borne explosives.

He said they had information that the third group would carry out a commando-style attack and "adequate measures" were taken to prevent it.

The intelligence chief said that a police official, who was suspected of having links with the attackers, was also arrested and was currently under interrogation.

Muqbil and Wardak also gave their reasons on how the attack happened on Sunday, but the lawmakers called the vote, saying they were not satisfied with their explanations.

The interior and defence ministers survived the ballot by 11 votes, while Saleh survived by 21. (dpa)