IMF rep, UN staff among 14 killed in Kabul restaurant attack

KABUL, January 18, 2014 (AFP) - Taliban suicide attackers killed at least 14 people, including the IMF representative in Afghanistan and three UN staff, in a terrifying gun and bomb attack on a Kabul restaurant popular with foreigners.

One attacker blew himself up outside the Taverna du Liban in the upmarket Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood Friday and two gunmen stormed inside, mowing down staff and diners in a hail of gunfire.

International Monetary Fund representative Wabel Abdallah, 60, was among the dead. The Lebanese national was one of the most senior foreign officials to have been killed in Afghanistan.

"This is tragic news, and we at the fund are all devastated," IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said in a statement.

The assault was quickly claimed by Taliban militants fighting against the Afghan government and US-led foreign forces in the country.

Deputy interior minister Mohammad Ayoub Salangi told AFP that two of the attackers forced their way into the heavily guarded restaurant after an initial explosion at about 7:30 pm.

"At least 14 people have been killed.

One suicide attacker detonated himself outside the restaurant and two others got inside indiscriminately killing people," Salangi said.

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