BAGHDAD (AP) - Police and hospital officials in Baghdad now say as many as 26 people are dead after insurgents stormed Iraq's central bank.
      
The violence began with the explosions of bombs near the bank, sending plumes of smoke over the city skyline.
      
The apparent robbery attempt led to a battle with security forces and a three-hour standoff.
      
Authorities say some of the attackers managed to get to a higher floor in the bank and set a fire to burn some documents. They may have escaped by blending in with bank employees.
      
A military spokesman says the goal appeared to be to steal the bank's deposits and then blow up the building.
      
The spokesman blamed the attack on al-Qaida in Iraq. He says no money had been stolen from the bank, which holds gold deposits as well as U.S. and Iraqi currency.