Kabul hotel siege drama

NATO attack helicopters hover over a Kabul hotel as Afghan security forces move in on Taliban gunmen holding hostages inside.

The militants seized an unknown number of hostages when they attacked before dawn.

Police say 18 civilians have been freed.

But the siege was still going on at 0400GMT and it wasn't immediately clear if the gunmen still held more hostages.

The hotel's owner was watching events unfold.

SOUNDBITE: MOHAMMED AGHA, OWNER OF HOTEL, SAYING (Dari):

"My sons and employees from the hotel phoned me and said the situation is bad here and that they were locked in."

Police say at least two militant were killed as security forces moved into the lakeside hotel on the outskirts of the capital.

At least three were involved in the initial assault on the building in the popular Qargha Lake recreation area.

The NATO-led Security Assistance Force said some Afghan police and civilians had been killed.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

It said it was responding to wild parties held by wealthy Afghans and foreigners in the run-up to Friday's religious holiday.

Paul Chapman, Reuters