Ban Ki-moon speaks out against attack on Afghan leader

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned today's attack against Afghan President Hamid Karzai that occurred during a victory parade in the war-torn nation's capital Kabul, claiming the lives of two Parliament members and injuring nine others, including two Afghan National Police.

“The attack against the legitimate institutions of the Afghan state and the Afghan people is unacceptable,” Mr. Ban said in a statement issued in Bern, Switzerland, by his spokesperson.

Reiterating the UN's support for the rebuilding of Afghanistan through “legitimate state institutions, in a manner that addresses the needs of the most vulnerable and that provides both justice and security,” he urged the international community and the Government to continue their cooperation towards reaching these goals, “undeterred by vicious attacks as the one today.”

The Secretary-General lauded the country's security forces for their quick response to the attack which averted more deaths and for protecting Afghan officials and foreign diplomats at the event.

He also sent his condolences to the families of those killed, wishes for a swift recovery to those injured and sympathies to President Karzai and his Government.