UN doing all it can to win release of abducted workers, official says

The United Nations is doing all it can to support efforts to win the release of the three foreign UN workers abducted last week in Afghanistan, a top official of the world body said today.

Catherine Bertini, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Management, said unfortunately there are no new developments in the case, although the UN is doing "everything possible to secure the release of our colleagues."

"The Government of Afghanistan is leading the investigation and is fully committed to working to ensure the rapid release of our colleagues," she said at a press briefing in New York. "We're also providing support to their families."

Shqipe Hebibi, Annetta Flanigan and Angelito Nayan were taken by armed gunmen from their UN vehicle on 28 October in the Afghan capital of Kabul. They had been contracted by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to work on the country's first-ever presidential elections last month.

Responding to questions, Ms. Bertini said the UN did plan to make any changes to its operations in Afghanistan at this time.

Meanwhile, a coalition of Afghan religious authorities today condemned the abduction of the three UN workers as an action contrary to Islamic principles and strongly demanded their release, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

The All-Afghanistan Clergy Council pointed out that the three individuals had come to the country to serve the people of Afghanistan, according to Mr. Eckhard.