Death toll rises after Kabul hotel battle

The death toll in the attack on an international hotel in Kabul has risen to 10.

Kabul Police Chief General Mohammad Ayub Salangi said today that 10 Afghan civilians – mostly hotel workers – died when heavily armed Taliban fighters stormed the Inter-Continental and fought security forces for more than four hours.

The attack started last night, on the eve of a conference about transferring responsibility for security from foreign to Afghan forces by the end of 2014.

Some conference attendees were staying at the hotel, but were not hurt.

Nato helicopters killed three gunmen on the roof and Afghan security forces rushed in to end the stand-off.

However, Gen Salangi said one of the six to eight suicide bombers, who had been injured, later blew himself up in one of the hotel rooms.