SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS SUICIDE ATTACK ON UNITED NATIONS CONVOY IN AFGHANISTAN

The following statement was issued Sunday, 14 September, by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest possible terms the suicide attack against a United Nations convoy in southern Afghanistan earlier today.  The attack, in Kandahar Province, killed two doctors working for the World Health Organization, as well as their driver, all Afghan nationals.  The doctors, travelling in clearly marked United Nations vehicles, were carrying out a polio vaccination campaign.  A number of innocent bystanders were injured in the attack.

The attack came one day after another suicide bombing near Kabul that killed the Governor of Logar Province.

These unacceptable and cowardly actions show the brutal face of those opposing progress towards peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General sends his condolences to the families of those killed in these heinous attacks and his best wishes for a full recovery to those who were injured.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record