Three United Nations election workers freed yesterday nearly a month after being abducted in Afghanistan today thanked the Afghan people for the support shown during their ordeal and said they were looking forward to getting back to work.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today voiced his “delight” at the release of three United Nations election workers abducted last month in Afghanistan and pledged the world body’s commitment to help promote peace, reconstruction and democracy in the war-torn country.
Alarmed by the massive growth in opium production this year in Afghanistan, the United Nations crime fighting agency today called on the international community to do more in that country's battle against the illicit drug trade or risk a reversal of recent gains there and it becoming a "narco-state."
The families and friends of the three United Nations staffers being held in Afghanistan today issued an emotional appeal for the safe return of the trio, who had been working to support the country's historic election when they were abducted late last month.
A spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) today expressed gratitude for the many expressions of support and solidarity received throughout the country since the abduction of three UN staffers two weeks ago.
The Security Council today welcomed the certification by the joint United Nations-Afghan electoral board of interim President Hamid Karzai as the winner of Afghanistan's first-ever presidential elections last month.
Afghans calling an official hotline in Kabul have expressed their solidarity with the United Nations over the abduction of its three staff members a week ago, authorities told the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) today.
Increasingly worried about the three United Nations staff members who were abducted a week ago, the UN mission in Afghanistan today called for their immediate release.
Following the endorsement of results by the joint United Nations-Afghan electoral board today, Secretary-General Kofi Annan congratulated Hamid Karzai on becoming Afghanistan's first elected President.
