Kabul: 10 killed as Taliban attack Intercontinental hotel

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Kabul: 10 killed as Taliban attack Intercontinental hotel

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At least 10 people have been killed when heavily armed Taliban militants attacked a hotel in Kabul.

29 June,2011 12:18 am

Six heavily armed Taliban militants attacked the Intercontinental hotel frequented in Kabul late night on Tuesday. According to sources, three suicide bombers blew themselves at the front gate, on the second floor and at the back of the hotel. A local news agency also confirmed that the armed men had managed to enter the hotel.In a telephone call, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility and said several fighters from the Islamist group had attacked the hotel.A Pakistani diplomatic delegation, including Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir was in Kabul for the ongoing tripartite talks between the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan. An Afghan government official confirmed that hotel was not one of the venues to be used by the conference or its delegates. The attack comes a week after President Barack Obama announced plans for the initial withdrawal of 10,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year, with another 23,000 to leave by the end of 2012.