Two dead in gunbattle at India's parliament

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- A gunbattle broke out at India's parliament in New Delhi after five unidentified armed intruders stormed the building at around midday on Thursday.

Two gunmen have been killed, the Indian prime minister's office told CNN, while two others are believed to have been apprehended.

One intruder is thought to still be at large. Security forces including Indian commandos have launched a massive search for the gunman.

Doctors at the emergency room of New Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia hospital said 20 security force personnel had been brought in six of whom were dead and 14 seriously injured, Reuters news agency reported.

Dozens of Indian soldiers and commandos have taken up positions around and inside the parliament complex where two explosions and automatic gunfire were heard.

AUDIO CNN's Satinder Bindra on the scene 1.42 MB / 2 mins 15 secs WAV sound   ÊCNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition Ê

Parliament had been adjourned when the attack was launched, but as many as 100 sitting members are still inside.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is safe and members of cabinet were safe, the prime minister's office said. The office told CNN that Vajpayee was inside the building at the time of the attack.

An MP told CNN that any attack on parliament is "an attack on the India's sovereignty ."

"Every Indian will strengthen his resolve to fight back. We will not negotiate or bargain with terrorists," the member said.

The attack took place at 11:45 a.m. local time (0615 GMT).

There was a heavy exchange of fire and loud explosions were heard.

Most of the gunfire and explosions occurred just outside gate 12 of the parliament.

Eyewitnesses told CNN that they saw people with bullet injuries and local television showed the wounded being put into ambulances.

The atmosphere was extremely edgy and tense, CNN's Satinder Bindra reported from the scene.

Police have cordoned off about a two-mile radius surrounding parliament. The only traffic near the scene was police and emergency vehicles.

The main Mumbai stock index fell 3 percent on news of the attack. It had been trading flat.