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Annan appalled by brutal murder of Red Cross worker in southern Afghanistan

Annan appalled by brutal murder of Red Cross worker in southern Afghanistan

Stressing the reprehensible nature of targeting humanitarian workers, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said he expects authorities in Afghanistan to make every effort to find those responsible for the brutal murder of an aid worker.

A statement issued by a UN spokesman in New York said Mr. Annan was appalled to learn of the brutal killing yesterday of Richard Munguía, a delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in the southern Afghanistan province of Uruzgan.

"Mr. Munguía, a 39-year old water and shelter engineer, was shot by unidentified assailants while en route to the town of Tirin Kot, near Kandahar, where he was assigned to improve the water supply," statement said.

"The Secretary-General finds it reprehensible that humanitarian workers committed to help people in need are targeted," the statement said, adding that Mr. Annan expects the authorities to make every effort to find and detain those responsible for this criminal act.

"The Secretary-General wishes to extend his deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Munguía and to his colleagues at the ICRC," the statement said.