United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday condemned the deadly attack on a Kabul restaurant that killed 21 people, including four UN staff, and said that the UN fully supports the transition of Afghanistan toward a better future in peace, development and security.
"On many occasions I have condemned in the strongest possible terms these reckless terrorist attacks against civilians. This is totally unacceptable and this is a violation of international humanitarian law. All the perpetrators must be held accountable," said Ban.
"As the United Nations mourns this terrorist attack and victims we remain committed to work for the peace, stability and development of Afghanistan. We fully support the transition of Afghanistan toward better future in peace development and security," he said.
Gunmen burst into the Lebanese restaurant spraying diners with bullets after the bomber blew himself up near the entrance on Friday night, just as people had sat down for dinner.
The first explosion happened at 19:30 in the diplomatic district of Wazir Akbar Khan. Security forces reached the area and engaged in two hour gunfire with the two gunmen who were resisting inside the building, said Kabul police chief Gen Zahir Zahir.
The restaurant has high security and a reputation for serving foreign diplomats and aid workers. It is known to draw crowds on Friday nights.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for attack, calling it revenge for a US air strike earlier this week that had also drawn condemnation from Karzai as eight civilians were killed.
The US State Department said three US private citizens were killed. Britain and Canada confirmed they each lost two nationals and Denmark said one of its citizens also died.
The American University of Afghanistan said two of its US employees died in the attack on La Taverna du Liban, a popular dining spot whose charismatic owner, Kamal Hamade, was also killed.
The Afghanistan head of the International Monetary Fund Wabel Abdallah was also among the victims.
There have been a number of high-profile Taliban attacks in the capital since the start of 2014, after the country saw one of the bloodiest fighting seasons of the 13-year war last year.
The United Nations has attributed over 70 percent of all civilian casualties in Afghanistan to Taliban attacks.
The victims of attack:
Americans:
1. Lexie Kamerman, working at the American University of Afghanistan, I
think as a member of the student affairs staff
2. Dr Alexandros Petersen AUA colleague,
3. Basra Hassan, a Somali-American working as a nutrition specialist for
UNICEF
Canadians:
4-Martin Glazer of Gatineau, Quebec
5.-Peter McSheffrey of Ottawa
Worked for Samson and Associates doing auditing work for the Canadian
International Development Agency.
Britons:
6. Dharmender Singh Phangura, also known as Del Singh: Phangura, an
adviser for Adam Smith International, who was to run as a Labour Party
candidate in upcoming elections for the European Parliament. Worked for the
UK-funded Budget project in the MoF.
7. Simon Chase, working for EUPOL
Lebanese:
8. Wabel Abdallah, International Monetary Fund resident
representative
9. Kamal Hamade, Restaurant owner
Danish:
10. Danish civilian staff member, working with EUPOL. Name not
released. EUPOL contact is Karl Åke Roghe, EUPOL Afghanistan Head of Mission
Russian:
11. Vadim Nazarov, chief political affairs officer at UNAMA. Nazarov
was one of the U.N's most experienced officials, fluent in the country's
languages and with experience dating back to the 1980s.
Malaysian:
12. ASI adviser Gnana Nagarajah. Worked for the UK-funded Budget
project in the MoF.
Pakistan:
13. Nasreen Khan, UNICEF health specialist
Afghan Victims:
1. Zabiullah, Jalalabad Custom Maintenance Chief Driver
2. Akram, Restaurant Security Guard
3. Mohammad Wasim, Waiter
4. Mohammad Ali, AWCC Driver
5. Amruddin, Restaurant Security Guard
6. Haji Mohammad Amin, Businessman
7. Wazhma, Haji Mohammad Amin's Wife
The Wounded:
8. Abdul Majid, Cook in the Restaurant- wounded.
9. Gulla Jan, occupation not identified- wounded.