3rd LD Writethru: 14 Nepalese killed in Afghan capital suicide bombing

Fourteen Nepalese citizens were killed and nine people were injured after a suicide bomber struck a minibus in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Monday, Afghan Interior Ministry said.

"One suicide bomber approached and targeted a mini bus carrying personnel of a foreign company at around 05:40 a.m. local time. As a result 14 workers of the company, who were Nepalese citizens, were killed," the ministry said in a statement.

The statement noted that five Nepalese and four Afghans were wounded in the attack which occurred in Banahi area along Pul-e-Charkhi road which is also called Jalalabad road in eastern part of the city.

The victims were serving as security guards in a foreign embassy in central Kabul, according to a source.

The attacker was killed on the spot and the blast also damaged several civilian vehicles and shops near the site, he said.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Government Chief Executive Abudllah Abdullah and the Afghan Interior Ministry condemned the attack.

"I condemn the terrorist attack on those traveling to their work places in Kabul this morning. This attack is an act of terror and intimidation." Abdullah said in his twitter account.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different places of the country, which had claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

The Taliban urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the government. Enditem