An Afghan girl has been killed and a number of other people injured after a Taliban suicide squad attacked a guest house in Kabul, used by a US-based aid group.<br /><br />A gun battle erupted after a suicide car bombing outside the building. Insurgents then forced their way in. <br /><br />Police said at least 18 foreigners, including children, were evacuated and taken to a safe house. <br /><br />Several others were held hostage and a siege followed until Afghan security forces killed the last Taliban insurgent inside.<br /><br />The siege of the walled compound, which is also home to a small church, lasted for several hours.<br /><br />A military commander said five attackers in total are dead. All the foreign nationals are said to be alive and well.<br /><br />The guest house is used by Roots of Peace, a US-based group involved in de-mining and other projects in Afghanistan.<br /><br />The Taliban claimed responsibility for Friday’s assault, saying in a statement that the target was a foreign guest house and a church.<br /><br />Violence has spiralled in the run-up to Afghanistan’s presidential election on April 5, which the Taliban has vowed to disrupt.<br /><br />Taliban suicide bombers and gunmen attacked an election commission office in Kabul on Tuesday. Last week, nine people were killed in an attack on a highly-fortified hotel in the capital.<br /><br />The nation of 30 million is holding an election to choose a successor to outgoing President Hamid Karzai, who is barred by the constitution from running for another term in office.
