21 dead in Kabul hotel battle

At least 21 people, including nine Taliban suicide bombers and two policemen, were killed in Kabul when armed guerrillas stormed a luxury hotel frequented by foreign nationals, the interior ministry said yesterday.

Among the killed civilians in the Intercontinental Hotel attack was a Spanish citizen.

Afghan soldiers walk towards the Intercontinental hotel at the end of the military operation against Taliban militants that stormed the hotel in Kabul

The statement said the attack begun around 11 pm onu00a0 Tuesday and the operation against the attackers concluded at 3 am yesterday.

"The enemies of peace and stability committed another shameful crime by sending nine suicide bombers and attacking the Intercontinental Hotel in capital Kabul, which left nine Afghan civilians an a Spanish citizen dead," an official statement said.

"As a result of timely reaction of the Afghan National Police, the Afghan National Army and coalition forces backed by the NATO-led international troops, all nine suicide bombers were killed."

At least 18 people, including five policemen, were wounded in the attack. Zabihullah Mujahid, who claimed to be a Taliban spokesperson claimed responsibility for the attack.

He said some Taliban fighters equipped with suicide vests stormed the hotel and inflicted casualties on foreign and Afghan guests there.

The attack came a week after an announcement by US President Barack Obama that some 10,000 American troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan this year and an additional 23,000 by the end of September 2012.u00a0

9
Number of armed millitants who stormed the hotel