President Karzai Strongly Condemns Killing of Construction Workers in Kandahar

Date of Release: 23 September 2006

Ottawa, Canada – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, strongly condemned the killing of Afghan construction workers in the Shorabak district by the Pakistani border in Kandahar Province.

According to reports, a bus carrying Afghan construction workers in Shorabak district of Kandahar was attacked by a roadside bomb and gunfire, killing 19 laborers.

The President expressed his deep regrets at the death of civilian workers and said “These terrorist acts are shocking and despicable and I condemn them in the strongest possible terms.  Today’s heinous acts of terrorism are against the reconstruction and prosperity of Afghanistan.”

“The enemies of Afghanistan can never hinder the reconstruction process of Afghanistan.  This act goes against the wishes of the Afghan people who aspire for a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

The President expressed his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the full and speedy recovery of the injured.

For further information, please contact:

Office of the Spokesman to the President

Tel.:  00 93 799 33 77 55

        00 93 799 909 429

Released by the Office of the Spokesman to the President