U.S. government strongly condemns Taliban's brutal execution of Afghan woman

The U.S. government on Monday strongly condemned the public execution of an Afghan woman by the Taliban, warning that this is another reminder of Taliban's "brutality."

White House spokesman Jay Carney told a news briefing that he echoed the "strong condemnation" already made by John Allen, the U.S. commander of the International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Xinhua reported.

"Under the Taliban's rule, women's rights were ignored, attacked and eroded. This cold-blooded murder is another reminder to the Afghan people and the international community of the brutality of the Taliban," he said.

Carney said the U.S. stands alongside the Afghan people "to ensure that the hard-won gains made by women in the last 10 years are not only protected, but advanced."

The cold-blooded execution of the 22-year-old Afghan woman, accused of adultery in Parwan province, has aroused public outrage after a video surfaced showing she was shot many times before a crowd by a Taliban member firing an AK-47 rifle. The Afghan police have launched a man hunt for the Taliban soldier.

At the U.S. State Department's daily news briefing, department spokesman Patric Ventrell also told reporters that he strongly condemned the "heinous and brutal attack."

Carney added that this incident showed that there will be no peace in Afghanistan without reconciliation, which can only be achieved when the Taliban abides by the Afghan constitution, lays down arms and renounces any ties to the al-Qaida terror group.