Militants killed after attack on Kabul airport

Militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked Kabul International Airport in the Afghan capital on Thursday in one of the most audacious assaults on the facility, used by both civilians and the military, in a year. The attack on the airport comes at a time of great uncertainty for Afghanistan as votes from the second round of a disputed presidential election are to be recounted. The poll is meant to mark Afghanistan's first democratic transfer of power. The attack lasted about four hours after four unidentified militants armed with automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades opened fire on the airport from the roof of a building just to its north. ‘Four terrorists were killed by police special forces. The area is being cleared now, there are no casualties to our forces,’ said Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attack. ‘Due to the closeness of the attack to the runway, Kabul airport is now closed to all flights,’ the official said. Planes could be heard circling above Kabul as the attack unfolded, according to Reuters.