| The United Nations says the Afghan Government is to provide armed escorts for UN staff travelling on roads in the south of the country. The announcement follows a string of attacks on UN mine-clearance workers, which have been blamed by Afghan officials on remnants of the ousted Taleban regime. The latest attack was reported a couple of hours before the UN announcement. Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a UN vehicle on the main road between the eastern towns of Gardez and Khost. Two Afghan mine-clearance staff were injured. |