General David H. Petraeus, Commander of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), joined Afghan President Hamid Karzai, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the international community in strongly condemning Friday's attack on a United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan office in Mazar-e-Sharif, Xinhua reported.
"This was a coward and criminal attack resulting in the murder of innocent United Nations workers," said Petraeus in a statement issued on Saturday. "United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan is solely focused on working in support of the Afghan people and nothing can justify yesterday's vicious and tragic actions."
"Last night I spoke with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General in Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura and conveyed ISAF's sincere condolences to the families of those killed and wounded and to our partners in UNAMA who are working so hard for the Afghan people," said Petraeus. "ISAF stands ready to provide any assistance necessary."
Seven UN staff were killed in the attack following the locals' protest over the burning of a copy of Muslim holy book Koran by a U.S. pastor, in Mazar-e-Sharif, some 305 km north of capital Kabul.