Afghan security officers inspect house in Kabul after raid, 30 Apr 2008

Afghan officials say at least seven people were killed when security forces raided a hideout housing militants involved in Sunday's attack on President Hamid Karzai.

Afghan intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh says troops surrounded a house in the capital, Kabul, Wednesday, trading fire with Taliban militants.

Saleh says at least one of the dead militants directly participated in Sunday's attack on President Hamid Karzai during a military parade in Kabul.  Mr. Karzai escaped unharmed.

The intelligence chief also says there is evidence that militants based in Pakistan's tribal region planned the assassination attempt.  But Saleh says he has no proof the Pakistani government was involved.

Saleh told Afghanistan's Parliament Tuesday he knew of the plot to murder President Karzai and had warned the Afghan leader and his security advisor.

Meanwhile in southern Afghanistan, U.S. Marines and British forces are continuing an offensive in the Garmsir district of Helmand province. Officials say troops are clearing Taliban militant positions in the opium-producing region.

Afghan authorities Wednesday also carried out two other raids on militant hide-outs in the capital, Kabul, as part of a wider operation.  Six militant suspects were detained.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.