Terrible news out of Afghanistan, as CNN is reporting that 19 people were killed in a coordinated suicide attack on various government buildings.
CNN:
Eight Taliban suicide attackers struck Afghan government buildings and a prison Wednesday killing 19 people in a coordinated attack that the Taliban said was in retaliation for the mistreatment of prisoners, according to Afghan officials.
The deadliest strike happened at the Ministry of Justice where five of the attackers stormed the building here, prompting a three-hour firefight with Afghan soldiers and police, defense ministry spokesman Gen. Mohammed Zahir Azimi said.
"This attack shows the real face of the Taliban," said Gen. David D. McKiernan, with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. "This is another example of the Taliban impeding progress for Afghans."
It was the same type of attack carried out by the Taliban in October, also against Afghan government buildings in Kabul in broad daylight.
The exact breakdown of the 19 deaths and 45 injuries from Wednesday's strike was not clear, but Azimi said most of the casualties were at the justice ministry, including civilians and guards.
