Military

DATE=10/09/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-N-AFGHAN DEATHS (L-O)

NUMBER=2-281579

BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the world organization has suffered a "hard blow" with the deaths of four observers in Georgia and four humanitarian workers in Afghanistan. Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United Nations.

TEXT: Mr. Annan was commenting on the rebel attack on a U-N helicopter in western Georgia and the deaths of U-N mine clearing workers near Kabul, Afghanistan. The workers in Afghanistan were apparently near a Taleban communications facility that had been targeted in air raids Monday.

The Secretary-General said the incident in Afghanistan illustrates that "we need to do all we can" to protect innocent civilians there.

Mr. Annan said the current British and U-S bombing campaign in Afghanistan is making it more difficult to send humanitarian supplies into the country.

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We already had difficulties getting the trucks and drivers who would go in and with the current situation it has become a bit more difficult. However, we are continuing our attempts to get trucks in, but it is much more difficult because, as you can understand, in this situation not many truck drivers want to drive in there.

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Mr. Annan said British and U-S officials have assured him that all efforts will be made to try to avoid civilian casualties in Afghanistan and that military operations will be focused on the "alleged perpetrators" of terrorism. (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/BA/RAE