Secretary-General Strongly Condemns Deadly Shelling of Wedding Party in Afghanistan

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the shelling that hit a wedding party in Helmand Province yesterday and which reportedly killed 25 civilians and wounded 45 others. 

The Secretary-General urges the Government to carry out a full investigation of the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to the relatives of the victims and wishes a swift recovery to the injured.