Afghan police say Taliban militants tried to storm a government building in the country's east, causing a firefight that killed five people.

Authorities in Paktika province said up to four potential suicide bombers attempted to take over the government communications office in the provincial capital of Sharan Tuesday. Several of the attackers and at least one police officer died in the assault, and officers were still exchanging fire with at least one of the attackers.

The Taliban are claiming responsibility for the attack.

Paktika province shares a porous and ill-defined border with Pakistan and is one of the main routes for Taliban militants to infiltrate eastern Afghanistan from their sanctuaries across the border.

Elsewhere, NATO and Afghan forces worked together to capture several suspected Taliban agents in operations across Afghanistan. One joint Afghan and coalition raid resulted in the deaths of seven suspected insurgents and the capture of 30 others in Balkh province.