Taliban gunmen attack Afghan capital
Militants in Afghanistan launch attack on Kabul, targeting shopping centre and government buildings
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By Tom Powell. |  |
Monday, 18, Jan 2010 03:00
By Sarah Garrod
The Afghan capital Kabul has been attacked by around 20 suspected Taliban militants in a series of targeted suicide bomb and gunfire attacks.
Reports from the capital say the Serena Hotel, which is popular with foreign officials, was targeted as well as the presidential palace, and finance and foreign ministries.
In the largest coordinated attack on the city for over a year, it is believed two insurgents were killed by Nato forces. The Taliban has claimed responsibility, saying government buildings and the hotel had been specific targets.
Amid the chaos it is believed suicide bombers detonated explosives near to government buildings, with a shopping centre also being targeted by militants.
Nato's International Security Assistant Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan said it was "working closely with our Afghan partners to aggressively contain the situation during which several small explosions were reported near the Feroshgah e Afghan Shopping Center and the Serena Hotel". The hotel has been repeatedly targeted by the Taliban over the last year.
A statement from Isaf said small fire arms had also been used in the attack and two armed insurgents were killed at the shopping centre by police. A spokesperson added: "This attack further validates the [United Nations Mission in Afghanistan] report released last week that Afghan civilians killed in Afghanistan last year was up 14 per cent predominately due to the insurgents' use of terror attacks which often target innocent Afghan civilians."
The attack happened as new members of Afghanistan's cabinet were sworn in, with the Reuters news agency reporting that inside the vice president's office staff were rushed to a safe room amid the sound of gunfire.