Six UN Staff Killed By Gunmen In Kabul
5:29am UK, Wednesday October 28, 2009
Alex Watts, Sky News Online
Six UN staff have been killed after heavily-armed Taliban fighters stormed their guest house in the Afghan capital Kabul.
A plume of smoke was seen above the city during the attack
Gunfire reverberated through the streets and a large plume of smoke rose over the building in the Shar-e-Naw district as security forces battled the gunmen.
Interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said later: "The operation is over now.
"Three suicide attackers were killed."
A UN spokesman confirmed that six UN staff had been killed and nine others injured in the bloodshed.
He said their nationalities were unclear.
"This has clearly been a very serious incident for us. We've not had an incident like this in the past," he added.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said three militants with suicide vests, grenades and machine guns carried out the assault.
He said it came after the Taliban issued a statement threatening anyone involved in the November 7 election between President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abbdullah.
"This is our first attack," he warned.
Meanwhile, several rockets were fired at the foreign-owned Serena hotel near the presidential palace in central Kabul, witnesses said.
A foreign national staying at the hotel said more than 100 people had been rushed to an underground bunker.
The Kabul attacks came a day after roadside bombs killed eight US troops.
5:29am UK, Wednesday October 28, 2009
Alex Watts, Sky News Online
Six UN staff have been killed after heavily-armed Taliban fighters stormed their guest house in the Afghan capital Kabul.
A plume of smoke was seen above the city during the attack
Gunfire reverberated through the streets and a large plume of smoke rose over the building in the Shar-e-Naw district as security forces battled the gunmen.
Interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said later: "The operation is over now.
"Three suicide attackers were killed."
A UN spokesman confirmed that six UN staff had been killed and nine others injured in the bloodshed.
He said their nationalities were unclear.
"This has clearly been a very serious incident for us. We've not had an incident like this in the past," he added.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said three militants with suicide vests, grenades and machine guns carried out the assault.
He said it came after the Taliban issued a statement threatening anyone involved in the November 7 election between President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abbdullah.
"This is our first attack," he warned.
Meanwhile, several rockets were fired at the foreign-owned Serena hotel near the presidential palace in central Kabul, witnesses said.
A foreign national staying at the hotel said more than 100 people had been rushed to an underground bunker.
The Kabul attacks came a day after roadside bombs killed eight US troops.
