The U.N. Security Council has expressed grave concern about violence in
Afghanistan ahead of next month's elections. The Council noted a sharp
increase in attacks linked to al-Qaeda and the Taleban.
The 15-member Security Council issued a statement condemning the surge
of violence aimed at disrupting the September 18 legislative elections.
The Council president, Japanese ambassador Kenzo
Oshima said the main threat is no longer from militias operated by Afghan
warlords
, most of
whom have turned in their weapons. That threat, he says, has been
overshadowed by the re-emergence of extremist groups using ambushes and
makeshift bombs to spread terror.
"There is less problems by warlords, more than
60,000 former combatants have been disarmed and reintegrated into society, so
lessened threats used to be posed by them. Increasing violence and terror
attacks from the Taleban, al Qaeda and other extremist elements, and this
is a matter of serious concern."
In a briefing to the Council, top U.N. envoy to Afghanistan Jean
Arnault said deteriorating security conditions are making it difficult to
provide what he called "a level playing field" for the elections. One new
development he noted is a surge of attacks on community leaders, including
the killing of at least eight Muslim clerics. But he expressed confidence
that, despite the violence, the elections would fulfill the steps to
democracy laid out in a 2001 agreement reached in Bonn, Germany.
"These developments on the security front are a reminder
of the hurdles that Afghans face in rebuilding their country.
Nevertheless, we are confident that by the end of this year a
representative new national assembly will be established, and that with
it, the Bonn process will be successfully completed."
Washington's U.N. ambassador John Bolton issued a brief written
statement welcoming the elections. The statement said the United States
would continue to work with Afghanistan's neighbors to strengthen its
borders and reinforce regional security initiatives.
A U.S.-led coalition force of 23,000 troops is currently in Afghanistan
to help with security, along with a separate NATO-led force, which has
been boosted to a strength of more than 10,000 for the
elections. |