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UN Staffers Among Dozen Killed in Kabul Attacks

Taliban claims responsibility for attacks on guest houses

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 28, 2009 5:11 AM CDT

(Newser) – Six United Nations staffers and six others were killed today when militants armed with automatic weapons, grenades, and suicide vests stormed two guest houses in downtown Kabul where international workers were sleeping. One of the dead was American. The nationalities of the others was not immediately known. Rockets hit another hotel in the capital popular with foreigners, forcing 100 guests into an underground bunker, reports Reuters.

"We woke to explosions and shooting, and then heard women screaming and crying," said a neighbor of one of the guest houses. Security guards rebuffed attackers at one guest house, but the militants seized another and took hostages until security forces regained control, reports the Wall Street Journal. The Taliban—which has vowed to attack those working on next month's runoff election—claimed responsibility for the attacks and warned of new assaults.

An Afghan police officer carries an injured unidentified German national as smoke bellows from the site of the attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, today. (AP Photo/ Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Smoke rises from a UN guest house during a gunbattle in Kabul today. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Afghan security personnel secure an intersection leading to the site of an attack as smoke bellows in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. Gunmen attacked a guest house used by U.N. staff in... (AP Photo/ Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Afghan police officers run toward the site as smoke bellows from the site of the attack in Kabul. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

A police officer stands guard as black smoke billows from a building used by the United Nations in Kabul, Afghanistan, today. (AP Photo/APTN)

Police officers stand by as black smoke billows from a building used by the United Nations in Kabul, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/APTN)

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UN Staffers Among Dozen Killed in Kabul Attacks

Taliban claims responsibility for attacks on guest houses

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US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan today to discuss negotiations

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

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US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

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More than 3K killed, mostly by Taliban

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But American, NATO troops will still have 'robust' advisory role

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UN Staffers Among Dozen Killed in Kabul Attacks

Taliban claims responsibility for attacks on guest houses

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • United Nations • Taliban • Kabul • Afghanistan war • Afghanistan election

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan today to discuss negotiations

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

'Captain Wales' to return to Afghanistan this year; he'll be Taliban target

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit New High

More than 3K killed, mostly by Taliban

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013

But American, NATO troops will still have 'robust' advisory role

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?