UN condemns 'brutal and cold-blooded' murder of demining workers in Afghanistan

The senior United Nations envoy to Afghanistan today voiced shock and outrage at the "brutal and cold-blooded" murder on Saturday of four deminers working with the world body to help eradicate landmines from the country.

Through a spokesman, Jean Arnault called the employees of the Organization for Mine Clearance and Afghan Rehabilitation "invisible heroes who without any thought of self put their own lives at enough risk everyday." The four were shot dead while traveling in vehicles from Herat to Farah City.

Asserting that "the cowardly act committed against them cannot and will not be tolerated," Mr. Arnault called for a full investigation of the incident. He stressed that the perpetrators "who seek to destroy the hard earned peace, obstruct positive advances and callously wage war on decent and innocent people" must be brought to justice.