It is thought the attackers were targeting a meeting between the district governor of Chamkani in Paktia province and elders who were due to attend a loya jirga or traditional meeting being held in Kabul next week.
The loya jirga, called by President Hamid Karzai, will discuss a strategy for trying to make peace with the Taliban and Afghanistan`s long-term relationship with the United States with elders from around the warring nation.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) also said it had received reports that a number of people were being held hostage in a nearby mosque.
"We can confirm that a group of Taliban suicide bombers equipped with heavy and light weapons have attacked the district governor`s office," said Paktia provincial spokesman Rohullah Samoon.
"We have reports that the Taliban have surrounded the district governor`s office. Police and ISAF forces are being deployed to the area."
He added: "There was a meeting between the district chief and a group of elders selected to participate in the loya jirga going on in the governor`s office at the time of the attack."
Deputy provincial governor Abdul Rahman Mangal added that a suicide car bomber had initially struck at the gates of the headquarters.
Master Sergeant Nick Conner, a spokesman for ISAF in eastern Afghanistan, said the attack started at around 4:00 pm (1130 GMT) and that coalition forces were fighting insurgents on the ground alongside Afghan forces.
"Three coalition forces wounded along with two Afghan uniformed police," he said. "Our initial reports were that they were wounded during the initial attack."
He added that there were reports that some people were also being held hostage in a nearby mosque, but could not give further details at this stage.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to journalists.
"A large number of suicide attackers attacked and conquered Chamkani district of Paktia province but the attacks are still continuing," wrote Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, claiming heavy casualties.
The Taliban are known regularly to exaggerate their claims in relation to attacks.
(Uu.B002)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
