Taliban stormed hotel in Kabul

The Taliban stormed a lakeside hotel north of Kabul, killing three security guards, taking hostages and staging an hours-long gun battle with Afghan security forces, police said Friday, the Fox News reports.

At least three suicide bombers -- armed with machines guns, rocket-propelled grenades and vests laden with explosives -- killed the guards, then burst into the Spozhmai hotel at Qargha Lake around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Kabul police said in a statement. At least one policeman was also killed in the attack, said Kabul Police Chief Mohammad Ayub Salangi.

By mid-morning Friday, an unknown number of militants were still fighting Afghan forces. Black smoke was rising from the two-story hotel, according to Associated Press video. NATO helicopters circled overhead.