By IANS,
Kabul : Thirteen people, including six attackers, were killed and eight injured overnight when Taliban guerrillas stormed a luxury hotel here frequented by foreign nationals.
Militants targeted the Intercontinental Hotel around 10 p.m. Tuesday with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, Xinhua reported.
The exchange of fire between the militants and police lasted till early Wednesday morning.
The terror attack took place as the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan met to discuss security in the region.
Interior Minister Bismillah Mohammadi told reporters that the fighting has ended and seven civilians were among the dead.
The fortified hotel is popular with foreign and Afghan officials.
At least 60 guests were staying at the hotel at the time of the attack and it was not immediately clear if there were any foreigners among the casualties.
A witness said at least two rockets fired by the militants hit the hotel compound.
Zabihullah Mujahid, purportedly a Taliban spokesperson, told the media by telephone that the militant group was responsible for the attack.
US President Barack Obama had last week announced a plan to withdraw some 10,000 American troops from Afghanistan this year and an additional 23,000 by the end of September 2012.