19/8/11 - Attack on British Council compound in Kabul kills nine

Gunmen have stormed the British Council office in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least nine people and taking over the compound for hours.

A suicide car bomb destroyed the compound wall and a number of heavily armed men forced their way inside.

After several hours of gunfire and blasts, the UK's ambassador in Kabul said all the gunmen had been killed.

The Taliban said the attack marked the anniversary of Afghanistan's independence from the UK in 1919.

At least eight Afghan policemen and a foreign security official - reportedly a New Zealand special services soldier - were killed, Afghan authorities said.

Isaf confirmed that one of its troops had been killed during the operation without giving further details about the soldier's nationality, AFP reports.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the "cowardly attack", saying he had spoken to New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to thank him for the role the country's special forces had played in defending the compound. (more)