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Ongoing Kabul hotel attack kills 5 people

ISLAMABAD, Jan 21 (KUNA) -- At least five people were killed and six others wounded in the ongoing attack on a luxury hotel in Afghanistan's capital city Kabul that started late on Saturday night.
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman, Najib Danish on Sunday told media that so far five civilians have been killed and six others wounded, including three security force members, in the ongoing siege.
He claimed that five floors have been cleared of insurgents and only the sixth floor remains.
The 11-hour long siege begun when gunmen burst into Kabul's luxury Intercontinental Hotel; shooting at guests and staff and setting the building on fire. The official confirmed that all those who had died or were wounded were Afghan nationals.
Over 100 guests and staff had been rescued of whom 16 were foreign nationals, he added.
Heavy gunfire and explosions were heard throughout the night as security forces tried to end the siege.
No group has so far claimed the responsibility of the attack that followed a series of security warnings in recent days.
Earlier in June 2011, the same hotel was attacked by the Taliban rebels killing 21 people, including 10 civilians. (end) sbk.tg