Military

DATE=8/23/2005

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=UN/Afghanistan (L-O)

NUMBER=2-326730

BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: U.N. Security Council Condemns Extremists Bid to Disrupt Afghan Elections

INTRO: The U.N. Security Council has expressed grave concern about violence in Afghanistan ahead of next month's elections. From U.N. headquarters, VOA's Peter Heinlein reports the Council noted a sharp increase in attacks linked to al-Qaeda and the Taleban.

TEXT: The 15-member Security Council issued a statement condemning the surge of violence aimed at disrupting the September 18th legislative elections.

The Council president, Japanese ambassador Kenzo Oshima said the main threat is no longer from militias operated by Afghan warlords, most of whom have turned in their weapons. That threat, he says, has been overshadowed by the re-emergence of extremist groups using ambushes and makeshift bombs to spread terror.

///OSHIMA ACT///

There is less problems by warlords, more than 60-thousand former combatants have been disarmed and reintegrated into society, so lessened threats used to be posed by them. Increasing violence and terror attacks from the Taleban, al Qaeda and other extremist elements, and this is a matter of serious concern.

///END ACT///

In a briefing to the Council, top U.N. envoy to Afghanistan Jean Arnault said deteriorating security conditions are making it difficult to provide what he called "a level playing field" for the elections. One new development he noted is a surge of attacks on community leaders, including the killing of at least eight Muslim clerics.

But he expressed confidence that, despite the violence, the elections would fulfill the steps to democracy laid out in a 2001 agreement reached in Bonn, Germany.

///ARNAUD ACT///

These developments on the security front are a reminder of the hurdles that Afghans face in rebuilding their country. Nevertheless, we are confident that by the end of this year a representative new national assembly will be established, and that with it, the Bonn process will be successfully completed.

///END ACT///

Washington's U.N. ambassador John Bolton issued a brief written statement welcoming the elections. The statement said the United States would continue to work with Afghanistan's neighbors to strengthen its borders and reinforce regional security initiatives.

A U-S led coalition force of 23-thousand troops is currently in Afghanistan to help with security, along with a separate NATO-led force, which has been boosted to a strength of more than 10-thousand for the elections. (Signed)

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