At least 21 people, including 10 civilians and 6 attackers, were killed today when a group of heavily armed Taliban fighters attacked the Intercontinental Hotel in the Afghan capital city of Kabul.

The attack came early in the evening, leading to a multihour gunbattle at one of the most popular hotels for foreigners and Afghan government officials visiting the capital. A number of explosions were reported, and the attackers were said to have machine guns, as well as anti-aircraft weapons and rocket launchers.