Taliban suicide bombers attack top Kabul hotel

KABUL — Taliban suicide bombers and gunmen attacked a Kabul hotel popular with foreigners and Afghan officials, sparking a five-hour assault that left several casualties and part of the building in flames.NATO helicopters were called in to help crush the brazen attack on the hilltop Intercontinental Hotel, which officials said ended in the early hours of Wednesday with six would-be suicide bombers killed by security forces.The gunmen entered the hotel as guests were eating dinner, evading what are normally rigorous security procedures. Panicked guests were told to stay in their rooms. The hotel was hosting an Afghan security meeting at the time.Security at most high-end hotels in Kabul was significantly stepped up after an attack on the city centre's Serena Hotel in 2008 left seven people dead.The State Department indicated that all US diplomatic staff were safe and confirmed US special envoy Marc Grossman and all the members of his visiting delegation had safely departed Afghanistan and were en route to Washington."The United States strongly condemns the attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, which once again demonstrates the terrorists' complete disregard for human life," it said in a written statement."We extend our condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this attack," it said, adding there was no information on any American casualties.Explosions were heard during the late-night assault and a part of the building was seen ablaze as security forces cleared the attackers.Among those staying at the luxury hotel were Afghan government officials from across the country who were in Kabul for a conference on the handover of power from foreign to Afghan security forces. The process starts next month."The operation has just ended, all of them (the attackers) have been killed," interior ministry spokesman Siddiq Siddiqi told AFP. "We believe at this stage it was six suicide bombers."Ambulances were being sent to the hotel to ferry away any dead and wounded, but he declined to provide an

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