Suicide bomb attack on Kabul restaurant 'kills 14'

A restaurant popular with foreigners has been attacked by a suicide bomber in the Afghan capital, police say.

The blast occurred close to a Lebanese restaurant in Kabul's Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood. Gunfire was heard coming from the scene soon afterwards.

The area is home to a number of foreign organisations. The embassies of Canada, Norway and Tajikistan are said to be on the same street as the restaurant.

There are reports of a number of dead and wounded.

Deputy Interior Minister Ayoub Salangi said the suicide bomber died in the attack and two other men were shot and killed close the restaurant.

'There were a number of people wounded, including drivers and people waiting outside and in neighbouring houses,' he added.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, and said it had been deliberately targeting foreign officials.

The Taverna du Liban is a regular eating place for diplomats, aid workers and Afghans, and would have been busy with customers on a Friday evening.

Witnesses said a single loud blast was heard followed by about 20 minutes of gunfire.

Security forces were quickly on the scene, and the area was cordoned off.

The last remaining contingent of Nato forces are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of the year, having handed over security to Afghan forces.

Washington is pushing Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign an agreement that would allow some US troops to stay behind this year's withdrawal.

The Taliban told the BBC's John Simpson earlier this week that it was now back in control of larges areas of Afghanistan and would soon return to power.