US condemns attack on Afghan maternity ward
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has condemned a militant attack on a maternity ward in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Two babies and 12 mothers and nurses were killed when several gunmen stormed the hospital on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, in the eastern province of Nangarhar, a bombing at a funeral killed at least 26 people.
Mr Pompeo said: "Any attack on innocents is unforgiveable, but to attack infants and women in labour... is an act of sheer evil."
"Terrorists who attack mourners lining up for prayer at a funeral are only wanting to tear apart the bonds that hold families and communities together, nonetheless they won't succeed."
He added: "During the holy month of Ramadan and amidst the threat of Covid-19, these dual attacks are particularly appalling."
Mike Pompeo described the attacks as "sheer evil"
In the wake of the attacks, President Ashraf Ghani said he was ordering the resumption of offensive functions against the Taliban and other groups.
He accused the militants of ignoring repeated demands a reduction in violence.
The Islamic State (IS) group said it had been behind the attack on a police commander's funeral in Nangarhar, in the east of the united states. It is still not clear who carried out the attack at the Dasht-e-Barchi hospital, and the Taliban have denied any involvement.
What happened at the hospital?
The Kabul attack commenced at about 10:00 (05:30 GMT) on Tuesday, and locals described hearing two blasts then gunfire. One doctor who fled through the assault told the BBC about 140 persons were in a healthcare facility when the gunmen attacked.
A maternity ward in a healthcare facility is run by the international medical charity Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) and some of these working there are foreigners.
Another doctor told AFP news agency that "total panic" took hold as the assault unfolded.
Ramazan Ali, a vendor who saw the attack begin, told Reuters news agency: "The attackers were shooting at anyone in this hospital without any reason... It's a government hospital, and a lot of people generate their women and children for treatment."
Afghan special forces rescued 100 women and children, including three foreigners, the official told the BBC. The attackers, who reportedly had gained access dressed as police officers, were all killed by security personnel after a battle lasting hours.
Images from the scene showed soldiers carrying one newborn baby to safety, swaddled in a blood-stained blanket.
Many foreign staff are in a guesthouse behind the Dasht-e-Barchi Hospital and a doctor who fled the building told the BBC he saw an explosion there too.
During the past, similar attacks in this mostly Shia area of the capital have been related to IS. The group's leader in South Asia and china and taiwan was arrested in Kabul on Tuesday, with two other high profile members, Afghan intelligence said.
In 2017, IS gunmen disguised as medical staff attacked Kabul's main military hospital, prompting widespread shock and anger and raising questions about security. The authorities later confirmed about 50 people had been killed.
However the Taliban also attack hospitals. Last September, 20 persons died after a truck packed with explosives was detonated by militants from the group outside a hospital in southern Zabul province.
On TV, Mr Ghani said: "In order to provide security for public places also to thwart attacks and threats from the Taliban and other terrorist groups, I'm ordering Afghan security forces to change from a dynamic defence mode to an offensive one and also to resume their procedures against the enemies."
