Taliban gunmen have stormed one of Afghanistan’s premier hotels, sparking a five-hour battle that left 19 people dead, including all eight attackers.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said his security forces will soon take charge of security in seven areas around the country – the first step towards his goal of having Afghan police and soldiers protecting the entire nation by the end of 2014.

An Irish woman was among three foreign election workers kidnapped by armed men in the Afghan capital, Kabul, today.