SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS VIOLENT ATTACKS IN AFGHANISTAN RESULTING IN DEATH OF POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF RECONSTRUCTION TEAM

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS VIOLENT ATTACKS IN AFGHANISTAN RESULTING IN

DEATH OF POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF RECONSTRUCTION TEAM

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about a series of violent attacks in Afghanistan, in which an unconfirmed number of civilians and military personnel were killed and injured in Kandahar on 15 and 16 January, including an attack against the Canadian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar yesterday, in which the Political Director, Glyn Berry, was killed.  Mr. Berry has served as a Vice-Chair of the United Nations General Assembly’s Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and Chair of the Committee’s working group.  He will be missed by his friends and colleagues.  The Secretary-General expresses his condolences to the bereaved families and the respective governments

The Secretary-General condemns these attacks, which represent an unacceptable assault upon the peace process and urges all concerned parties to work together in a spirit of national unity and reconciliation.

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For information media • not an official record