KABUL, Afghanistan - At least three gunmen stormed a central Kabul bank Wednesday and were surrounded by police, an official said, as the Taliban said the attack was part of a series planned for the eve of elections.

Interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said the three were "robbers or thieves" and played down a Taliban claim that it was an insurgent attack.

"We don't know whether these are Taliban or insurgents because when they entered the bank, they must have intended to steal," Bashary said.

Witnesses reported hearing gunfire in the area which is close to a bazaar and about 1.5 kilometres (one mile) south of the city centre.

"As they got into the bank, since we have very tight security in Kabul, police were able to get to the area in seconds and they (the gunmen) are surrounded by police," Bashary said.

"The situation is under control," he said. He did not comment on any casualties for the police.

A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahed, claimed that four of the militants were in the building in a standoff with police.

Mujahed said the gunbattle had killed about a dozen policemen but this was not confirmed by authorities.

Around 20 Taliban fighters had entered the city and were waiting orders to attack, he told an AFP reporter by telephone. Such claims have in the past proven to be untrue.