Insurgents launch attack on U.S. embassy

KABUL -- Teams of insurgents firing rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons struck at the U.S. Embassy, NATO headquarters and other buildings in the heart of the Afghan capital yesterday, raising fresh doubts about the Afghans' ability to secure their nation as U.S. and other foreign troops begin to withdraw.

Seven Afghans were killed and 15 wounded in the coordinated daylight attack, which sent foreigners dashing for cover and terrified the city well into the night as U.S. helicopters buzzed overhead. No embassy or NATO staff members were hurt.

Late yesterday, at least two gunmen remained holed up on the top floors of an apartment building from which they and other militants had attacked the heavily fortified embassy.

The militants' seeming ability to strike at will in the most heavily defended part of Kabul suggested that they may have had help from rogue elements in the Afghan security forces.

The attacks also coincided with suicide bombings elsewhere in the capital -- the first time insurgents have organized such a complex assault against multiple targets in separate parts of the city.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, though Kabul's deputy police chief said he thought an affiliated organization carried it out.

The Taliban and related groups have staged more than a dozen assaults in Kabul this year, including three major attacks since June, an increase from years past that is clearly intended to offset U.S. claims of weakening the insurgents.

The Obama administration declared that it wouldn't allow yesterday's attack to deter the American mission in Afghanistan, warning the attackers that they would be relentlessly pursued.

Afghan officials said the violence around Kabul resulted in the deaths of three police officers and four civilians. Six insurgents were also killed, police said.