Taliban militants wearing suicide vests stormed a guest house used by UN staff in the heart of the Afghan capital early today, killing 12 people – including six UN staff – in the biggest in a series of attacks intended to undermine next month’s presidential run-off election.

Gunmen attacked a guest house used by United Nations staff in the Afghan capital Kabul early today, killing at least six UN staff.

A massive three-day battle in southern Afghanistan between Nato and Taliban militants has killed more than 100 people, including insurgents, civilians and police, Afghan officials said today.