Islamic jihadists attack UN guesthouse in Afghanistan, six dead

But the UN spokesman says that the UN will continue its good works in Afghanistan, building things for the Taliban to destroy. "Kabul Guesthouse Attack Leaves 6 Dead, Including 5 UN Employees," by James Rupert and Gregory Viscusi for Bloomberg, October 28:

Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Six international workers were killed and nine wounded when insurgents attacked a guesthouse in the Afghan capital, Kabul, where officials are preparing for next month's presidential runoff election.

At least five of the dead worked for the United Nations, UN spokesman Aleem Siddique said by telephone from Kabul, with the identity of the sixth victim still to be established. Gunmen opened fire outside the main gate to the Bakhtar Guesthouse at about 6:30 a.m. local time today and forced their way inside, killing UN workers as they "were running to escape," Siddique said. Afghan security forces killed the three gunmen, he said.

One of the UN employees who died was an American, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul said in a statement. The UN isn't announcing the nationalities of the others until their families have been notified....

Special UN representative Kai Eide said the world body will continue its work in Afghanistan.

"The UN has been in Afghanistan for more than half a century," Eide, a Norwegian diplomat, said in a statement posted on the Web site of the UN Afghan mission. "This attack will not deter the UN from continuing all its work to reconstruct a war-torn country and to build a better future for all Afghans."...

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a telephone call that three militants with suicide vests, grenades and automatic weapons carried out the assault to disrupt preparations for the vote, AP reported.

Militants also fired a rocket, which failed to explode, into the grounds of the luxury Serena Hotel, forcing guests and employees to flee to the basement, AP said....