The Afghan capital awoke to more explosions and heavy gunfire in the heart of the city and near the nation's parliamentary building as insurgent attacks on Kabul entered a second day.

As darkness turned to dawn, Afghan-led forces fired one rocket-propelled grenade after another into a building where insurgents began their attack on Sunday in the capital and three eastern cities.

The Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi said Monday that one militant is still holed up in a building in the center of Kabul where insurgents began their attack on Sunday.

The Taliban attacked embassies, government buildings and NATO bases -- saying it was their response to NATO officials' recent claims that the insurgency was weak.

Authorities say one police officer and 17 militants were killed in the attacks.

Reporters for The Associated Press witnessed the Monday morning assault.

It is unclear whether insurgents are still holed up there, or whether the gunfire and explosions were part of a clearing operation.