Taliban attacks as Cabinet sworn in
Source: Agencies |
January 19, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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TALIBAN militants struck in the heart of the Afghan capital of Kabul yesterday, launching suicide attacks on key government targets, killing at least five bystanders and security forces and wounding nearly 40, officials said.
The Defense Ministry said seven attackers had also been killed in the brazen attack, which occurred 10 days before a major international conference in London on ways to shore up the Afghan government to confront the growing Taliban threat.
After a series of blasts and more than three hours of subsequent gunfights outside several ministries and inside a shopping mall, President Hamid Karzai said security had been restored, though search operations continued amid reports that more attackers were hiding in the city.
It was the biggest assault on the capital since October 28 when gunmen with automatic weapons and suicide vests stormed a guest house used by United Nations staff, killing at least 11 people including three UN staff.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press that 20 armed militants, including some with suicide vests, had entered Kabul to target the presidential palace and other government buildings in the center of the capital.
Explosions and heavy machine-gun fire rattled the city for hours. Debris was strewn on the streets, which were quickly abandoned by crowds that normally fill the area.
Defense Ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said a child and a policeman were killed. The Ministry of Public Health later said five people - a civilian and four security forces - were killed and 30 others wounded.
The attack unfolded as Cabinet members were being sworn in by Karzai despite parliament's rejection of the majority of his choices. Presidential spokesman Waheed Omar said the ceremony happened as scheduled, and everybody was safe.
Militants have become increasingly brazen in challenging Afghan and international forces as the United States and NATO allies begin sending 37,000 more troops to join the fight.
The first blast was heard shortly before 10am in an area where government buildings are concentrated, including the presidential palace, the central bank and the luxury Serana Hotel, which is frequented by Westerners.
A rocket slammed into the street near the bank's gate, but there were conflicting reports that the area had been struck by a suicide bomber or grenades.
Police sealed off a large area in the center of Kabul as the clash of machine-gun fire echoed through the mountain-rimmed city. Helicopters buzzed overhead. A car that exploded between a shopping center and the Ministry of Education burned in the street.
Fighting raged for more than three hours and one four-story shopping center near the Justice Ministry was engulfed in flames after militants entered the building, throwing grenades inside, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Zemari Bashary.
Two suicide bombers later detonated their explosives and Afghan troops killed two other militants in the mall. Bashary said other militants were holed up on the top floor, but officials later said the building had been cleared.
Afghan troops also surrounded a well-known cinema and opened fire on militants believed hiding inside. Police officer Ghulam Ghaus said the fighting ended after the last suicide attacker inside blew himself up. It wasn't clear how many others were in the building.
The Defense Ministry said seven attackers had also been killed in the brazen attack, which occurred 10 days before a major international conference in London on ways to shore up the Afghan government to confront the growing Taliban threat.
After a series of blasts and more than three hours of subsequent gunfights outside several ministries and inside a shopping mall, President Hamid Karzai said security had been restored, though search operations continued amid reports that more attackers were hiding in the city.
It was the biggest assault on the capital since October 28 when gunmen with automatic weapons and suicide vests stormed a guest house used by United Nations staff, killing at least 11 people including three UN staff.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press that 20 armed militants, including some with suicide vests, had entered Kabul to target the presidential palace and other government buildings in the center of the capital.
Explosions and heavy machine-gun fire rattled the city for hours. Debris was strewn on the streets, which were quickly abandoned by crowds that normally fill the area.
Defense Ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said a child and a policeman were killed. The Ministry of Public Health later said five people - a civilian and four security forces - were killed and 30 others wounded.
The attack unfolded as Cabinet members were being sworn in by Karzai despite parliament's rejection of the majority of his choices. Presidential spokesman Waheed Omar said the ceremony happened as scheduled, and everybody was safe.
Militants have become increasingly brazen in challenging Afghan and international forces as the United States and NATO allies begin sending 37,000 more troops to join the fight.
The first blast was heard shortly before 10am in an area where government buildings are concentrated, including the presidential palace, the central bank and the luxury Serana Hotel, which is frequented by Westerners.
A rocket slammed into the street near the bank's gate, but there were conflicting reports that the area had been struck by a suicide bomber or grenades.
Police sealed off a large area in the center of Kabul as the clash of machine-gun fire echoed through the mountain-rimmed city. Helicopters buzzed overhead. A car that exploded between a shopping center and the Ministry of Education burned in the street.
Fighting raged for more than three hours and one four-story shopping center near the Justice Ministry was engulfed in flames after militants entered the building, throwing grenades inside, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Zemari Bashary.
Two suicide bombers later detonated their explosives and Afghan troops killed two other militants in the mall. Bashary said other militants were holed up on the top floor, but officials later said the building had been cleared.
Afghan troops also surrounded a well-known cinema and opened fire on militants believed hiding inside. Police officer Ghulam Ghaus said the fighting ended after the last suicide attacker inside blew himself up. It wasn't clear how many others were in the building.
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