June 10, 10

NEWS / Top UN envoy deplores deadly attack on Afghan wedding party

10 June 2010 – The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has condemned last night’s attack on a wedding party in the southern province of Kandahar, which reportedly killed around 40 people and wounded at least 70 more.

“I am shocked and deeply saddened at the loss of life and large number of those injured last night in Nagahan village, Arghandab in Kandahar,” Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, said in a statement.

“I condemn this outrageous act. To specifically target people who were gathering at a moment of happiness to celebrate a wedding shows a total disregard for civilian life,” he added.

According to media reports, the Taliban is believed to have carried out the attack but the group has denied involvement.

Mr. de Mistura, who heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), expressed the condolences of all UN staff to those who lost loved ones in the attack and wished a speedy recovery to those who were injured.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34981&Cr=afghan&Cr1=