CLARIFICATION: Associated Press report "Gunfire hit most of Afghan bomb victims"

UNAMA statement, 18 Nov 07

A news report released yesterday (17 November 2007) by the Associated Press states that a preliminary UN report into the Baghlan bomb attack has found that up to two thirds of those killed and wounded were hit by bullets fired by panicked bodyguards. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan believes this news report is based on premature and incomplete information, and that aspects of it may therefore be misleading.

There is no UN investigation as such, nor are we clear what AP means by 'a preliminary U.N. report'. Our role has been to observe Afghan investigative efforts and to follow this case on the basis of our mandate for monitoring civilian casualties.

On the question of causes of death, this remains a matter for Afghan investigations to determine. We are aware of conflicting accounts of numbers killed or wounded by gunfire. It is very hard at this time for anyone to be certain on figures, not least because many of the victims were buried soon after the bombing.

UNAMA believes the priority should be for the Afghan investigations to run their proper course and for the facts to be established. We encourage media representatives to exercise due care while following these ongoing investigations.

Kabul, 18 November 2007

For further information, media should contact:

Dari and Pashto:

Nazifullah Salarzai: 0797 662 504

English:

Dan Mc Norton: 0700 250 358

Spokesperson's Office

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)

Kabul, Afghanistan

www.unama-afg.org