Britain withdraws civilian staff from Kabul
February 26th, 2012 - 3:30 am ICT by IANSLondon, Feb 26 (IANS) Britain has announced to temporarily withdraw its civilian staff from Kabul after the shooting dead of two NATO officers at the Afghan interior ministry.
The civilian members and advisers from institutions within Kabul have been withdrawn, the British foreign office said, adding “We will keep the situation under review.”
The motive behind the Saturday’s attack was not immediately clear.
The shooting occurred on the fifth day of protests across Afghanistan over the burning of Quran by the US forces at Bagram military base.
Meanwhile, the NATO has recalled its forces guarding the ministries and other government installations in Kabul after the attack, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.
“I condemn today’s attack that killed two of our coalition officers, and my thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the brave individuals,” said Gen. John R. Allen, top US and NATO Commander in Afghanistan.
Over 30 people have died and about 180 others were injured since protests broke out Tuesday after the media reported about the burning of the holy Quarn by US forces.
“We are investigating the crime and will pursue all leads to find the person responsible for this attack,” Xinhua quoted the coalition forces’ statement as saying.
- Obama calls US commander over Afghan violence - Feb 26, 2012
- NATO pulls outs forces from Afghan ministry offices (Lead) - Feb 26, 2012
- Seven killed in Afghan clashes against Quran burning - Feb 24, 2012
- U.S. soldier detained after opening fire at Afghan civilians - Mar 11, 2012
- US vows full accountability in Afghan shooting (Lead, Changing dateline) - Mar 11, 2012
- US apologises over Afghan Quran burning - Feb 22, 2012
- Attack on US airbase in Afghanistan kills two - Mar 06, 2012
- Quran burning protests rage in Afghanistan - Feb 22, 2012
- US military chief visits Afghanistan - Aug 20, 2012
- US military chief visits Afghanistan - Aug 20, 2012
- Five soldiers involved in Afghan Quran burning - Mar 02, 2012
- US hands over key prison to Afghanistan - Sep 10, 2012
- Turkish military helicopter crashes in Kabul, killing 16 - Mar 18, 2012
- NATO blames Pakistani Taliban for Kabul attack - Sep 15, 2011
- NATO soldier killed in Afghan blast - Sep 09, 2012
Tags: brave individuals, british foreign office, civilian members, civilian staff, coalition forces, fifth day, government installations, holy quarn, interior ministry, international security assistance, isaf, john r allen, kabul, london feb, military base, nato commander, nato officers, quran, thoughts and prayers, xinhua