ISLAMABAD (AFP)-The United Nations is awaiting security guarantees from the Taliban to resume its work in southern Afghanistan where it closed its offices this week, U.N. officials said Friday.

The U.N. shut its offices in Kandahar, the Taliban's headquarters, and withdrew its expatriate staff on Tuesday after raids by armed soldiers during which, according to a U.N. statement, office property was damaged.

The soldiers, who entered the offices during a search for escaped opposition leader Ismail Khan, damaged property and intimidated staff, the statement said.

"We have communicated with them [Taliban]. It is now for them to communicate with us," U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Bunker said.

"No solution is in sight yet," Bunker said, adding that some preliminary contact had taken place between the two sides. "A little discussion is going on."

The ruling Taliban's Information Minister Mawlawi Qudratullah Jamal said Thursday in Kabul the raids that triggered the pullout were actions of individuals not authorized by the Taliban leadership.

The Taliban guarantee security and immunity of the United Nations and other foreign offices throughout the country, he said, calling on the United Nations to reopen the offices and resume its programs in the southern region.

"If some people entered their offices, this was not according to everybody's consultation. The issue was not [so] serious that they [should] shut their offices," Jamal said.

The United Nations only resumed operations in Afghanistan last year after a six-month break following the killing of one of its officials.

The U.N. official was murdered during a demonstration in Kabul in August 1998 after a U.S. missile attack on suspected bases of alleged terrorist Osama bin Laden, following twin bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa.

	Rape By Russian Forces In Chechnya Continues
	First Mass-Release of Sinhala Translation Of Qur’an
	Bradford: The Asian Capital Of England
	Religious Sects Preying On Africa's Misery
	Israeli Leader Congratulates Jewish Settlers of Palestinian Lands
	Pakistan Formally Proposes Dialogue With India

Top News