Attack on luxury hotel in Kabul underway

ISLAMABAD, Jan 20 (KUNA) -- A group of attackers have entered a luxury hotel in Afghanistan's capital city Kabul late on Saturday night and were exchanging fire with security forces, said Interior Ministry spokesman.
Najib Danish told media that details of the incident, including information on any casualties, were unclear but the attackers appeared to have included suicide bombers.
According to initial reports, the insurgents stormed the Intercontinental Hotel in Bagh-e-Bala area in Kabul and the hotel is still under siege and sporadic gunfire could be heard coming from the hotel.
The group of attackers reportedly gunned down guards at the entrance to the hotel and stormed the building through the kitchen.
A number of guests and staff had been taken to a secure area by security forces and security personnel were moving through the hotel in a bid to eliminate the attackers, said Interior Ministry spokesman, whose remarks were monitored in Islamabad.
He said that one attacker had been killed but three more were suspected of still being inside the hotel. The security forces have cordoned off the area and there are reports of one floor of the hotel being set on fire.
Earlier in June 2011, the same hotel was attacked by the Taliban rebels killing 21 people, including 10 civilians. (end) sbk.bs