UN Staff Killed During Afghan Protest
VOA News April 01, 2011
Afghan police say at at least eight foreign employees of the United Nations have been killed in northern Afghanistan, after a protest against the burning of the Quran turned violent.
The United Nations confirmed Friday that an operating center belonging to its mission in Afghanistan was attacked Friday in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province.
Afghan officials say demonstrators stormed the U.N. compound during protests against the recent burning of the Quran by an American preacher in the southern U.S. state of Florida.
The act was condemned by both Afghan and Pakistani leaders.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Mazar-e-Sharif after Friday prayers. The rally turned violent outside the U.N. mission's compound. Afghan officials say five Nepalese U.N. guards were among those killed.
The top U.N. official in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, was said to be heading to the northern city.
Demonstrations against the Quran burning were also held Friday in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the western city of Herat, where protesters shouted anti-American slogans. No violence was reported.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
