Afghanistan: Senior UN official deplores Taliban use of child in suicide blast

The United Nations envoy to Afghanistan has strongly condemned a suicide bombing, “allegedly” using a 13-year-old boy, against British forces in the south of the violence-wracked nation.

The attack, which killed three marines, “again demonstrates the Taliban''s total disrespect for human rights,” Kai Eide, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, said in a statement issued today.

“My thoughts are with the family and friends of those killed and wounded,” he added.

Taliban militia sent a young boy to carry out the bombing against British troops operating in the Sangin district of Afghanistan''s southern Helmand province on Friday.

“Such unscrupulous use of children cannot be justified under any circumstances. Forcing or coercing children directly into such action is wholly unacceptable by anyone''s standards,” said Mr. Eide.

The Special Representative urged the Taliban and all others to stop using children in warfare, stressing that “the rights of children must be fully protected.”