The 19-hour attack on the US embassy in Kabul, which left at least 14 people dead, was “not a very big deal”, according to ambassador Ryan Crocker. Earlier officials said that injuries were limited to three Afghan visa applicants and an Afghan security guard.

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The attackers launched their assault from a high-rise building site overlooking the embassy and the headquarters of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), which was also hit.

Six foreign troops were wounded.

The six “terrorists” in the building were all killed, Afghan officials said.

At least six rocket-propelled grenades landed in the embassy compound, Crocker said, admitting that it was “a hard day for the embassy and for my staff”.

But he claimed the attack showed the “weakness” of the insurgents and praised Afghan forces, who control security in Kabul.

Crocker blamed the Haqqani network, a tribal-based group allied to the Taliban, and said that they “enjoy safe haven” in the Pakistani tribal area of North Waziristan.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday insisted that the “brave” embassy staff would not be deterred by the attack.

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