UN office attacked in western Afghanistan
Kabul, Jul 30 (EFE).- A United Nations office in Afghanistan’s western Herat province was attacked by “anti-government elements” on Friday, who killed one Afghan security guard while many officials have been injured, the organization reported.
“The United Nations in Afghanistan condemns in the strongest terms the attack today on its main compound in Herat that resulted in the loss of life of an Afghan police guard and injuries to other officers,” the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a statement.
“The attack targeting entrances of the clearly marked United Nations facility was carried out by Anti-Government Elements” it added.
The international body said it was trying to establish a full picture of the attack and was in touch with the relevant parties in this regard.
“This attack against the United Nations is deplorable and we condemn it in the strongest terms,” said Deborah Lyons, the United Nations secretary-general’s special representative for Afghanistan.
“Our first thoughts are with the family of the officer slain and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” she added.
Lyons clarified that no UN personnel had been hurt in the incident, which included grenade attacks and gunfire.
The envoy called for the perpetrators to be identified and brought to justice, stressing that “attacks against civilian UN personnel and compounds are prohibited under international law, and may amount to war crimes.”
The area where the UN compound is situated in Herat witnessed intense fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security forces on Friday.
The insurgents managed to advance in some areas in the morning after security forces retreated, but the territory was recaptured by the official forces by the end of the day. EFE
