(3 Sep 2019) The death toll from a late-night Taliban suicide attack in the Afghan capital rose to 16 civilians on Tuesday, with 119 people wounded, an official said.
Angry Kabul residents climbed over the wall into the international compound on Tuesday, which has been targeted frequently, and set part of it on fire.
Thick smoke rose from the Green Village, home to several international organisations and guest houses and often a target of attacks - a peril to nearby local residents as well.
Nearby homes were shredded and the concrete blast wall, on the western side of the compound, had buckled.
A large crater was left in the street.
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said some 400 foreigners had been rescued after the suicide bomber targeted the compound late on Monday.
Five attackers were shot and killed by security forces after the bomber detonated a tractor packed with explosives, he said.
The attack occurred just hours after the US envoy briefed the Afghan government on an agreement "in principle" with the Taliban that would see 5,000 US troops withdraw from five bases in the country within 135 days of a final deal.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the Associated Press that despite peace talks taking place, he wanted the Americans to understand the Taliban are not weak and would enter into talks from a strong position.
He said the attack was a response to raids by US and Afghan forces on civilians in other parts of the country.
Between 14,000 and 13,000 American troops are currently in Afghanistan.
The Green Village also was hit by a suicide car bomber in January, again as the US envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, was visiting the capital to brief the Afghan government on his negotiations with the Taliban on ending nearly 18 years of fighting.
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