Afghan security forces shot and killed three heavily-armed attackers who tried to storm a government office in eastern Paktia province Sunday.

Officials say the would-be bombers arrived in a car filled with explosives and attempted to enter the municipality building in Gardez.

The three were killed by police in an ensuing firefight. A spokesman for the provincial governor says a municipal employee died in the crossfire. The assailants' car blew up during the gunbattle.

U.S. and NATO forces have launched a series of recent operations in eastern Afghanistan an attempt to uproot insurgent strongholds along the border with Pakistan.