Ban Ki Moon condemns killing of UN staff

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon: “This is a sad day and very difficult day for the United Nations. As you know, militants attacked the UN guesthouse in Kabul early this morning. I condemn this shocking and shameless act, and the terrorists who committed this crime. It is unjustifiable by any standard.”

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon is referring to the six UN workers killed in an attack by the Taliban. Insurgents stormed the residence in Kabul, killing a total of 12 people. Afghan forces exchanged gunfire for hours with militants inside the house, as wounded and terrified guests ran from scene.

Such a clear attack on UN staff in Afghanistan has so far been unprecedented.

In a separate incident, rockets were fired at a foreign owned hotel in the Afghan capital, forcing 100 guests into a bunker. The timing of these two attacks suggests a coordinated assault against foreigners and international forces in the country.

The Taliban is determined to disrupt the country’s democratic process. They’ve vowed to stage attacks in the run-up to the November seventh presidential election. UN officials are helping to organise the run-off election next week, after the first round was marred by fraud.

These attacks will raise questions about security during the polls. NATO reported a fifty percent rise in the level of violence on voting day last August, and a spike in the number of soldiers killed.

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tags: Afghanistan, Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations