Some United Nations staff in war-torn Afghanistan have begun leaving as a "precaution" against possible protests over new UN sanctions, a spokeswoman told AFP here Monday.
UN spokeswoman Stephanie Bunker said that while UN operations were carrying on normally, some staff had left amid mounting tension over the likely imposition of tougher sanctions against the ruling Taliban militia.
"Others are still there and we are keeping a close eye on the situation," she said, adding that an undisclosed but small number of employees had left from "various locations."
Other UN workers had recently arrived in the country and there was no general evacuation, she said.
Russia and the United States last week tabled a resolution with the Security Council calling for tighter sanctions against the Taliban unless it closes suspected terrorist camps and hands over Osama bin Laden.
Saudi dissident bin Laden is wanted in the United States for allegedly masterminding the twin bombings of US embassies in East Africa in 1998.
Aviation and financial sanctions imposed last year triggered violent protests against the UN in Kabul, forcing the temporary evacuation of foreign staff -- ISLAMABAD (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
