BREAKING NEWS

Foreigners escape Taliban siege in Kabul, one Afghan child killed

By REUTERS

MARCH 28, 2014 20:04

KABUL - Taliban gunmen stormed a Kabul guesthouse used by a US-based aid group and held four foreigners hostage for several hours on Friday, just eight days before Afghanistan holds a presidential election which the militant group has vowed to derail.

Kabul is already on high alert and people across the country are on edge ahead of an April 5 vote the hardline Islamist movement denounces as a Western-backed sham.

The siege of the walled compound, which is also home to a small church, lasted several hours before Afghan security forces killed the last remaining Taliban gunman holed up inside.

At least one Afghan child was killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the building and insurgents forced their way in. There were no casualties among foreigners.

A Reuters witness saw about 20 people being evacuated from the guesthouse in an upmarket residential area of Kabul, many looking frightened and shocked.

"The fight is over. The five attackers are dead," Qadam Shah Shaheem, commander of 111 Military Corps Kabul, told Reuters.

Ukraine catches Russian agents plotting Zelensky assassination

By REUTERS

05/07/2024 01:55 PM

Armenia says peace treaty with Azerbaijan may be signed before November

By REUTERS

05/07/2024 01:53 PM

Hamas says Israeli Rafah incursion aims to undermine ceasefire efforts

By REUTERS

05/07/2024 01:35 PM

Gaza is 'choked off' from aid since crossing closures, UN agencies say

By REUTERS