Taliban gunmen storm hostel in Kabul and target Camp Bastion

The military base was handed back to Afghan forces as part of the US-led coalition's move to withdraw by the end of 2014

Taliban gunmen stormed a guest house for aid workers in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, yesterday and were also fighting Afghan soldiers inside Camp Bastion, the former US and British base, in the south.

At least two people were killed in the second attack in three days on aid workers' housing, and authorities fear hostages may have been taken into the compound. At least two insurgents with suicide vests were also killed, one by his own explosives, while the other was shot, Qadam Shah Shaheem, an Afghan army commander, said, adding that eight people, including two foreigners, were rescued, but it was unclear how many attackers were still on upper floors. A Taliban spokesman said in a statement that its fighters had targeted a Christian organisation seeking to convert Muslims.

Camp Bastion was handed back to Afghan forces as part of the US-led coalition's move to withdraw by the end of 2014. But, as this deadline approaches, Taliban attacks have intensified

Reuters