Taliban militants in Afghanistan have taken over a government building and are firing into the headquarters of the chief of police, officials say.

Locals in Logar province, near the capital, Kabul, say the area has been evacuated amid reports of gun battles and Apache helicopters overhead.

One official described rockets hitting the building and small arms fire when the raid began.

The attack comes 10 days before nationwide elections in Afghanistan.

"The governor's building came under rocket attack from close range," local government spokesman Darwish, cited by the BBC.

Darwish said the attackers inside the buildings have been surrounded by the security forces.

There are also reports that international forces' helicopters are flying overhead.

Violence across the country has escalated in the run-up to presidential and provincial council elections on 20 August.

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