Nato withdraws staff from Afghan ministry
2012-02-25 20:21
Kabul - Nato on Saturday pulled all its staff out of Afghan government ministries after two of its advisors were shot and killed within the interior ministry, the force commander said.
"For obvious force protection reasons, I have also taken immediate measures to recall all other ISAF personnel working in ministries in and around Kabul," said General John Allen, commander of Nato's international security assistance force.
"I condemn today's (Saturday's) attack at the Afghan ministry of interior that killed two of our coalition officers," Allen said in a statement.
"We are investigating the crime and will pursue all leads to find the person responsible for this attack. The perpetrator of this attack is a coward whose actions will not go unanswered.
"We are committed to our partnership with the government of Afghanistan to reach our common goal of a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan in the near future."
Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for the shooting, saying it was carried out in revenge for the burning of Qur'ans at a US-run military base.
The shooting came on a fifth day of violent anti-US protests across Afghanistan over the incident, which forced US President Barrack Obama to issue an apology to the Afghan people.
