Afghan police say 13 killed in Kabul hotel siege

A 12-hour militant siege of an exclusive lakeside hotel near the Afghan capital killed 13 people, police said on Friday, including five militants and four civilians.   

Kabul police chief Ayoub Salangi also said that three guards at the Spozhmai hotel, overlooking Qargha Lake, were killed, along with one policeman, during the prolonged fight to free scores of hostages.

Heavily armed gunmen took scores of hostages at the popular hotel on Thursday just before midnight.   

The attack engaged Afghan security forces in a gunfight lasting several hours, police said on Friday. It underscored the potency of the Taliban even after over a decade of efforts by NATO and Afghan forces to repel them          

The bombers, armed with machines guns, rocket-propelled grenades and vests laden with explosives, attacked the Spozhmai Hotel at Qargha Lake late on Thursday night and fighting continued into Friday morning, said Mohammad Zahir, criminal director for Kabul police.                 

Four guests jumped out of a window at the two-storey hotel and crouched in the lake to hide from the attackers, according to an army spokesman.            

The Taliban said they attacked the hotel because foreigners there were drinking and participating in other activities banned by Islam.           

The US-led coalition was supporting Afghan security forces who responded to the attack, the coalition said. Helicopters circled overhead.          

APTN/Reuters