The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan is greatly saddened by the violence we have seen in Kabul today. It is clearly in the interests of everyone that the facts be established about what has happened. That such widespread destruction has occurred, including in some instances against UN and related premises, suggests the need for a very thorough investigation into all aspects of the day’s events.

As of this evening, the thoughts of the entire United Nations family in Afghanistan are with those who died today, with those who have been hurt or otherwise harmed, and with the families of all those affected. We call on everyone to respect the need for calm, and to recognise that one tragic incident must not be allowed to lead to another.

Kabul, 29 May 2006

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