UN denies cutting staff prior to sanctions

The UN Office for the Co-coordinator for Afghanistan has denied reports that it will cut its staff in the country prior to the imposition of sanctions on Friday. “Talking about specific numbers is irrelevant,” Stephanie Bunker, spokeswoman for the office, told IRIN on Thursday. “What is relevant is that we have staff in all locations. If the question is are we there or not - the answer is yes. End of story.” The UN Security Council approved a resolution on 19 December 2000 that imposed a unilateral arms embargo on the Taliban movement. The measure is the latest attempt to persuade them to hand over Osama bin Laden and close alleged terrorist training camps under their control. Demonstrations by Afghans, culminating in the ransacking of some UN humanitarian offices, occurred when the first round of sanctions, on Taliban-controlled international Ariana Airline flights and financial assets, took effect in November 1999.