Head of Afghanistan's intelligence service Amrullah Saleh shows a picture from the hotel's security cameras, Kabul, 15 Jan 2008

Afghan police have arrested four suspects in connection with Monday's attack on a heavily guarded luxury hotel in Kabul that killed at least eight people.

Foreign and Afghan officials confirm that a U.S. citizen, a Philippine employee of the hotel, a Norwegian journalist and security guards were among those killed in the attack on the Serena Hotel.

The Afghan intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh Tuesday gave reporters details of the commando-style attack.  He said three militants stormed the hotel Monday evening.  One attacker, who shot a security guard, was shot dead by a second guard -- triggering the attacker's suicide vest. 

A second attacker blew himself up near the entrance to the hotel's lobby, and a third entered the hotel and opened fire in the lobby.  He was later arrested.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the brazen assault and Tuesday warned of more attacks on restaurants and shops frequented by foreigners.

Afghan officials say the attack was organized by a militant connected to an insurgent leader based in neighboring Pakistan.

Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Australian embassy staff were in the hotel during the attack, but were not hurt.

Stoere met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai Tuesday and left the country two days ahead of schedule.

The top U.N. representative in Afghanistan Bo Asplund Tuesday said the attack was a matter of great concern, representing a deliberate targeting of foreign guests and Afghan civilians.

The attack on foreign civilians appears to be a new tactic by the Taliban.  In the past, the Taliban has typically targeted NATO, U.S. and Afghan troops and police.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP .