KABUL, Afghanistan ? Three UN staff members were killed in a shootout at a guest house in central Kabul on Wednesday, a UN spokesman said.

"We can confirm that three UN staff have been killed," said Aleem Siddique, UN spokesman in Kabul.

The deaths came after gunmen stormed a guest house approved by the United Nations near Kabul's busy Butcher Street shopping district around 5:30 a.m. (0100 GMT) well before the start of the working day.

Police and other Afghan officials said at least one of the attackers was killed, possibly after detonating an explosives-packed vest, and several police officers were wounded.

At least two foreigners were seen being taken from the guest house with what appeared to be gunshot wounds, witnesses said.