Peshawar: The United Nations has closed
all its offices and suspended its operations in this
northwestern Pakistani city due to security fears in the wake
of an audacious terrorist attack on the US consulate.
All UN offices in Peshawar, the capital of the North
West Frontier Province, will remain closed for two days
because of the security situation.
A UN spokesman told PTI that the step was a
precautionary measure aimed at protecting the world body`s
employees.
UN staffers have been directed not to attend office
and to work from home till Thursday, when the organisation
will review the security situation, the spokesman said.
Other officials said the UN staff will be asked to
resume work if the review meeting decides the security
situation has improved.
Militants armed with automatic weapons and suicide car
bombs tried to storm the US consulate yesterday, killing two
Pakistani security guards and a policemen.
At least six attackers were gunned down or blew
themselves up.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the
attack, saying it was carried out to avenge US drone strikes
in the country`s tribal belt.
The attack on the consulate came hours after a suicide
bomber struck a political gathering in Timergara, killing
nearly 50 people, most of them supporters of the Awami
National Party.
The security situation in the North West Frontier
Province has affected UN operations in the past too.
The UN suspended its operations last year after a
suicide car bomb attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel, which
killed at least four UN staffers.
In November last year, the UN pulled out all its
foreign staffers from the NWFP and the tribal areas.
Most UN offices in cities like Islamabad resemble
fortresses and extensive security measures have also been put
in place at the homes of employees.
PTI
