Andreassen said Norwegian photographer Stian Solum was shot at along with another journalist in the attack. Solum, a photographer for the Scandinavian photo agency Scanpix, said he and his colleague were shot by a man wearing a police uniform as they emerged from an elevator at the hotel. Solum narrowly escaped injury.

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Andreassen reported that several hotel workers were shot as well, and the lobby floor was covered with blood, with indications that the wounded had been dragged over the floor. There were unconfirmed reports of casualties. Andreassen described the scene outside the hotel as chaotic.

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Carsten Thomassen, age 38, died at a military hospital Monday evening after being shot in the lobby of the Serena Hotel in Kabul. Thomassen was a respected reporter for Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet and was part of the press corps traveling to Afghanistan with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

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Four men have been arrested after Taliban gunmen and a suicide bomber stormed the most luxurious hotel in Afghanistan and killed seven people including three foreigners, officials said Tuesday.

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It was planned to coincide with a visit by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed claimed Tuesday.

The minister was unharmed, taking shelter with the other guests and staff in a basement cafeteria.

"We decided to act at the appropriate time to show these ministers and foreigners that our hand and power extends everywhere and to show them we have the power and might to carry out attacks anywhere in Afghanistan," Mujahed said.

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26 Jun 2008


Pakistani officials are already vigorously denying the allegations, while Afghanistan authorities claim they have proof that Pakistani intelligence was involved in both an assassination attempt against Karzai on April 27 and shootings in the Hotel Serena on January 14

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