People in the Afghan capital of Kabul have reported gunfire and an explosion at a local hotel.

A loud explosion was heard before several rounds of gunshots, witnesses told Reuters.

Gunmen opened fire on a building housing foreigners, two Taliban officials told the agency. The hotel, said to be in the Shahr-e-Naw area, is reportedly popular with Chinese business visitors.

Security officials have yet to comment.

The Afghan capital has been rocked by regular attacks, particularly since the Taliban takeover last year.

Dozens of people were killed in suicide bombings in September, including at a school in a Hazara-majority neighbourhood.

Attacks also take place across the country on an almost-weekly basis.

Seven people were killed in a bus bombing in the north of the country on Tuesday.