The killing of eight United Nations workers during an anti-Koran burning protest in the northern Afghan province of Balkh was denounced by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Friday, dpa reported.
"I strongly condemn the attack that took place on the UN compound in Mazar-e-Sharif today, in which a number of UN staff were killed," he said in a statement.
"The victims of these attacks were devoted to helping the Afghan people build better lives. In targeting them, the attackers have demonstrated an appalling disregard for what the UN and the entire international community are trying to do for the benefit of all Afghans," Rasmussen added.