United Nations - The United Nations demanded to know Friday why it took an hour for Afghan police and NATO troops to respond to a Taliban attack on a guest house filled with U.N. staff in Kabul.Afghan authorities denied that they were slow to respond, and a NATO spokesman said the Afghans did not ask the international force for support.

Afghan authorities denied that they were slow to respond, and a NATO spokesman said the Afghans did not ask the international force for support.As guests cowered inside their rooms or jumped from windows, two U.N. security officers fought with three militants who attacked the guest house at dawn Wednesday, carrying grenades and automatic weapons and wearing suicide vests. Fire consumed part of the building during the two-hour siege, which left 11 people dead including the attackers.

As guests cowered inside their rooms or jumped from windows, two U.N. security officers fought with three militants who attacked the guest house at dawn Wednesday, carrying grenades and automatic weapons and wearing suicide vests. Fire consumed part of the building during the two-hour siege, which left 11 people dead including the attackers.Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said two Afghan security guards outside the house where 34 U.N. staffers lived appear to have been killed immediately in the assault, which appeared to target the U.N. for its role in the Nov. 7 presidential runoff election. The Taliban views the balloting as a Western plot.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said two Afghan security guards outside the house where 34 U.N. staffers lived appear to have been killed immediately in the assault, which appeared to target the U.N. for its role in the Nov. 7 presidential runoff election. The Taliban views the balloting as a Western plot.At that point, two U.N. security officers living in the house took up the job of protecting their fellow U.N. staff.

At that point, two U.N. security officers living in the house took up the job of protecting their fellow U.N. staff."For at least an hour, and perhaps more, those two security officers held off the attackers. They fought through the corridors of the building and from the rooftop," Ban told the U.N. General Assembly. "They held off the attackers long enough for their colleagues to escape, armed only with pistols against assailants carrying automatic weapons and grenades and wearing suicide vests."

"For at least an hour, and perhaps more, those two security officers held off the attackers. They fought through the corridors of the building and from the rooftop," Ban told the U.N. General Assembly. "They held off the attackers long enough for their colleagues to escape, armed only with pistols against assailants carrying automatic weapons and grenades and wearing suicide vests."Ban said that "the U.N. security team repeatedly called for help from both Afghanistan government forces and other international partners." He said "initial reports suggest that it was approximately an hour, if not longer, before Afghan police or others arrived on the scene."

Ban said that "the U.N. security team repeatedly called for help from both Afghanistan government forces and other international partners." He said "initial reports suggest that it was approximately an hour, if not longer, before Afghan police or others arrived on the scene."U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said the U.N. was demanding an explanation.

U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said the U.N. was demanding an explanation.The secretary-general told the U.N. Security Council that "we were a little taken aback by the fact that our security officers died or were wounded fighting, by themselves, a battle," Montas said.

The secretary-general told the U.N. Security Council that "we were a little taken aback by the fact that our security officers died or were wounded fighting, by themselves, a battle," Montas said."We cannot assess yet why. And we have asked, of course, to find out. We have to find out why," Montas said.

"We cannot assess yet why. And we have asked, of course, to find out. We have to find out why," Montas said.Jamil Jumbish, a top Interior Ministry official who is chief of Afghanistan's criminal investigation police, denied that Afghan authorities were slow to respond.

Jamil Jumbish, a top Interior Ministry official who is chief of Afghanistan's criminal investigation police, denied that Afghan authorities were slow to respond.He said Afghan police were stationed in the district and reached the site of the attack "very quickly." He said reinforcements were also sent in shortly afterward. Jumbish, however, did not specify how long it took police to respond to the attack.

He said Afghan police were stationed in the district and reached the site of the attack "very quickly." He said reinforcements were also sent in shortly afterward. Jumbish, however, did not specify how long it took police to respond to the attack.NATO spokesman James Appathurai said in Brussels that Afghan forces did not ask NATO's ISAF force for support.

NATO spokesman James Appathurai said in Brussels that Afghan forces did not ask NATO's ISAF force for support.Ban spoke first at a town hall meeting at U.N. headquarters where hundreds of staff members stood in silent tribute to the U.N. staff members killed in the attack - including two U.N. security officers, Lewis Maxwell from Miami and Laurance Mefful of Ghana. Nine other U.N. staff members were injured.

Ban spoke first at a town hall meeting at U.N. headquarters where hundreds of staff members stood in silent tribute to the U.N. staff members killed in the attack - including two U.N. security officers, Lewis Maxwell from Miami and Laurance Mefful of Ghana. Nine other U.N. staff members were injured.Mefful's widow, Emma, brought tears to many eyes when she spoke with great composure about her husband of 30 years whose life was guided by two principles: "loving his lord and loving his neighbor."

Mefful's widow, Emma, brought tears to many eyes when she spoke with great composure about her husband of 30 years whose life was guided by two principles: "loving his lord and loving his neighbor.""It was, therefore, not surprising about his heroic actions at a time of crisis, especially doing something to save the lives of others," she said. "He was just a selfless person and would do anything to make others comfortable - and that's what he did. We are very proud of him."

"It was, therefore, not surprising about his heroic actions at a time of crisis, especially doing something to save the lives of others," she said. "He was just a selfless person and would do anything to make others comfortable - and that's what he did. We are very proud of him."Maxwell's mother, Sandra Maxwell, told WPLG-TV that her son, who was 27, graduated from Miami Central High School in 2000. He was in the Navy, and then joined the United Nations. "He paid the ultimate sacrifice," Sandra Maxwell told the station.

Maxwell's mother, Sandra Maxwell, told WPLG-TV that her son, who was 27, graduated from Miami Central High School in 2000. He was in the Navy, and then joined the United Nations. "He paid the ultimate sacrifice," Sandra Maxwell told the station.In his remarks, Ban went out of his way to commend the U.N. guards.

In his remarks, Ban went out of his way to commend the U.N. guards."I am so grateful for their courage and bravery," Ban said.

"I am so grateful for their courage and bravery," Ban said.