KABUL (PAN): United Nations special representative in Afghanistan Kai Eide has described the terrorist attack on a guest house used by UN staff in Kabul as a 'very dark day' for the UN in the war-torn country.

The attack killed at least six foreigners and wounded nine others, according to a spokesman for the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan Ban McNorton.

"I strongly condemn the attack this morning on a guest house for which the Taliban have claimed responsibility," Eide said in a statement.

"This brutal attack has cost the lives of at least five UN staff and injured at least nine others."

He offered his condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their beloved ones in the attack. He added it was a tragic loss to each and every member of the UN family in Afghanistan.

The UN has been in Afghanistan for more than half a century. "We have been here to serve the Afghan people. Such attacks by any insurgency group are therefore not only an attack against the UN family but also against the Afghan people and those who need our help the most," Eide remarked.

However, he said such attacks would not deter the UN from continuing all its work to reconstruct the war torn country and to build a better future for all Afghans. "We will remain committed to the people of Afghanistan. We do of course review our security measures regularly in light of the prevailing security situation. We will in light of this mornings tragedy look at whether other appropriate measures need to be taken to protect all our staff," he said.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Afghan authorities for the assistance they given to the UN officials and for all the expressions of condolences.

pr/ma