Afghan officials say about 15 people are dead following an attack in Kabul on a Lebanese restaurant frequented by foreigners, officials and business people.
An International Monetary Fund official and four United Nations personnel are among the dead.
Authorities say a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the restaurant Friday and that two gunmen entered the establishment and opened fire. The gunmen also were killed.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the incident.
General Zahir Zahir, the Kabul police chief, spoke to VOA by phone about the attackers. "One of them blew himself up in front of the restaurant and two of them entered the structure and engaged with the guards. Eventually police arrived to the scene and cleaned up the place. The police have the complete situation under control," he said.
The International Monetary Fund said its representative in Afghanistan, 60-year-old Lebanese national Wabel Abdallah, was killed.
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde issued a statement saying, "This is tragic news, and we at the fund are all devastated."
A statement attributed to the spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Ban condemns in the strongest terms the horrific attack that left the four U.N. staffers dead. The statement said such targeted attacks against civilians are completely unacceptable, are in flagrant breach of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately.
A number of embassies and foreign organizations have offices in the area, and many Afghan officials live nearby.
An International Monetary Fund official and four United Nations personnel are among the dead.
Authorities say a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the restaurant Friday and that two gunmen entered the establishment and opened fire. The gunmen also were killed.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the incident.
General Zahir Zahir, the Kabul police chief, spoke to VOA by phone about the attackers. "One of them blew himself up in front of the restaurant and two of them entered the structure and engaged with the guards. Eventually police arrived to the scene and cleaned up the place. The police have the complete situation under control," he said.
The International Monetary Fund said its representative in Afghanistan, 60-year-old Lebanese national Wabel Abdallah, was killed.
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde issued a statement saying, "This is tragic news, and we at the fund are all devastated."
A statement attributed to the spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Ban condemns in the strongest terms the horrific attack that left the four U.N. staffers dead. The statement said such targeted attacks against civilians are completely unacceptable, are in flagrant breach of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately.
A number of embassies and foreign organizations have offices in the area, and many Afghan officials live nearby.
