18 killed in Afghan hotel attack

Heavily armed Taliban insurgents have killed 18 people – most of them civilians - in an attack on a lakeside hotel just north of Kabul.

Insurgents first killed the security guards at the hotel, then stormed inside and began firing at guests who were dining. Some of the guests escaped while others were held hostage as the attackers battled Afghan security forces who rushed to the scene for the next 12 hours.