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UN condemns using children as suicide bomber by Taliban

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-14 15:54

ABUL -- The special envoy of the United Nations Secretary General to Afghanistan Kai Eide has denounced the reported use of children by Taliban insurgents as suicide bombers in Afghanistan, a UN statement released Sunday said.

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"I strongly condemn the attack where a young boy was allegedly used as a suicide bomber against British forces in Sangin district of Helmand," the statement quoted Kai Eide as saying.

Taliban militants, according to media reports, used a young boy as a suicide bomber against the NATO-led ISAF peacekeeping force in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province on Friday. Three soldiers were killed in the attack.

The killing of marines by a 13-year old boy again demonstrates the Taliban's total disrespect for human rights, the statement added.

In the statement the UN envoy stressed that the "Taliban and all others who use children in warfare must cease doing so. The rights of children in Afghanistan must be fully protected."

Taliban insurgents, who have claimed preparing hundreds of suicide bombers, have yet to admit using children as suicide attackers in war-torn Afghanistan.