Taliban Attacks U.N. Workers in Afghanistan | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

LONDON Reports are gunmen carrying automatic weapons stormed a guest house in Central Kabul used by United Nations staff early Wednesday morning.

U.N. officials said at least six un staff members were killed and nine injured. Afghan police said they took control of the building within hours and that three of the gunmen were killed.

Elsewhere in the capital simultaneous attacks took place, including a mortar assault on the Serena Hotel, which is popular with foreign workers and journalists.

The attacks come after a deadly day in Southern Afghanistan on Tuesday in which eight American soldiers were killed. The troops all belonged to the 5-2 Stryker Brigade out of Ft. Lewis, Washington.

Late Tuesday morning in Kandahar Province, a massive roadside bomb hit the first Stryker, followed by an ambush. Just three hours later, in nearby Zabul province, a similar attack.

Roadside bombs account for 70 to 80 percent of U.S. casualties.

Each one is hard to take. October is now the deadliest month on record for American soldiers since the start of the war.

The Taliban is claiming responsibility for the attack and warns more will come in opposition to the upcoming presidential election on November 7th.