Local liaison to UN in northern Afghan city killed; factions to be removed

The top local security liaison official for the United Nations system in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif was killed during factional fighting over the weekend, and all factions are to be removed from the city tomorrow in a "critical" effort to restore security.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Mohammed Farid, a member of the Mazar-i-Sharif police, was killed when he went to investigate clashes between two factional militias near a warehouse belonging to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

The situation was now calm and the Mazar Multi-party Security Commission had agreed that the two police commanders from the Wahdat and Jamiat factions responsible for the incident and currently in custody at their respective military headquarters would be handed over to the police, UNAMA spokesman Manoel de Almeida e Silva said Sunday in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Given the recent escalation of tensions among the factions as well as in the city, UN personnel in Mazar were told to stay home on Saturday while the situation was assessed and action taken by the Security Commission, he added.

The Commission agreed that all "unauthorized" armed men from the Jamiat, Jumbesh and Wahdat Mohaqiq factions who had entered the city in the last weeks would be removed tomorrow. A delegation comprised of all factions and UNAMA will participate in the verification of that process. It was stressed that compliance with these conditions is critical to the current security situation

Expressing regret over Mr. Farid's "untimely and tragic" death, Mr. de Almeida e Silva said he was considered by all who worked with the UN there as an exceptional policeman, well liked by everyone in the international community as a professional and a dedicated man who approached his job with vigour and impartiality.

"The international community in Mazar feels that his death is indeed a great loss," the spokesman added.