kabul attack on aid group ends; four killed, dozens wounded

Taliban fighters attacked the offices of a U.S based aid organization in the Afghan capital on Wednesday. Setting off a huge explosion and battling security forces in an assault that lasted more than six hours and killed at least five people, the Interior Ministry told the press.Dozens of civilian vehicles and shops were either destroyed or damaged, and several buildings were also damaged. A large plume of smoke rose from the area and the sound of sporadic gunfire could be heard.The ministry’s statement said four civilians and a police officer were killed and 24 others were wounded in the assault. It was not immediately clear if any foreigners were killed or wounded.The ministry’s statement said the attack ended after all five insurgents were killed by Afghan forces. “Around 200 people were rescued from both buildings within the compound,” it said.Johan Bass, U.S. ambassador in Afghanistan, strongly condemned the attack on the NGO. He said the targeted organization helps local communities, trains journalists and supports the Afghan people. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in a statement also condemned the insurgents for deliberately targeting a civilian aid organization. `Today’s attack was particularly deplorable, hitting civilians helping Afghans,` the statement said.