Gunfire in Kabul

An embassy spokesman said on Monday that the attack at the Ariana Hotel compound late on Sunday also wounded another US citizen. The gunman, who was an employee of the embassy, was killed in the incident and appeared to have operated alone.

The injured US citizen, whose injuries were "not life-threatening," was evacuated to a military hospital in Afghanistan for treatment. The body of the dead American is expected to be returned to the United States soon.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the Taliban. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP on Monday that he was looking into what had happened.

The Ariana hotel compound is just a few blocks away from the Presidential Palace and the US embassy, in a heavily guarded military and diplomatic enclave almost entirely inaccessible to casual visitors.

Continuation of attacks

The attack comes amid escalating violence in the capital which earlier this month saw a 19-hour siege in the diplomatic quarter and also the assassination of former President Burhauddin Rabbani.

Top US officials including Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, blamed those attacks on the Haqqani network, a group of militants based in Pakistan's tribal areas, and said they were supported by Pakistan's spy agency, ISI. Pakistan officials have strongly denied any ISI connection to the Haqqani network or the previous attacks on Kabul.

Author: Marina Joarder (Reuters, AFP)
Editor: Grahame Lucas