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Afghanistan Deports EU, UN Diplomats

Pair accused of meeting, paying Taliban leaders

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 27, 2007 11:50 AM CST
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(Newser) – Two veteran diplomats left Afghanistan today after failing to refute accusations that they’d met with the Taliban, Reuters reports. A UN spokesman said the men were only “speaking to people on the ground,” and would return, but Afghan officials were resolute about barring the EU and UN reps. "They had met with leaders of suicide attacks," said one.

The men are accused of giving suicide attack leaders money. But in Helmand province, where the meeting allegedly occurred, the line between Taliban member and hostile local drug lord is blurry. “Tribal relationships are a very complex web,” the UN spokesman said. Both men knew that web well, having worked in Afghanistan for over a decade.

Aleem Siddique, a spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) speaks during an interview regarding the expulsion of two diplomats at the UNAMA's office in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007. The Afghan government expelled two senior diplomats from the U.N. and European Union on...
Aleem Siddique, a spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) speaks during an interview regarding the expulsion of two diplomats at the UNAMA's office in Kabul, Afghanistan...   (Associated Press)
Map locates Musa Qala, Afghanistan which was retaken by Afghan and international forces; 1c x 2 7/8 inches; 46.5 mm x 73 mm
Map locates Musa Qala, Afghanistan which was retaken by Afghan and international forces; 1c x 2 7/8 inches; 46.5 mm x 73 mm   (Associated Press)
Afghan workers of the Ariana Afghan Airlines are seen walking, right, near an Ariana plane at the International airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, March 29, 2007. A pair of top diplomats left Afghanistan this morning on the same plane. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Afghan workers of the Ariana Afghan Airlines are seen walking, right, near an Ariana plane at the International airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, March 29, 2007. A pair of top diplomats left...   (Associated Press)
Diplomat Michael Semple is among two deported from Afghanistan today for alleged contact with the Taliban.
Diplomat Michael Semple is among two deported from Afghanistan today for alleged contact with the Taliban.   (KRT Photos)
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Reactions

Of course we must talk
Guardian (UK)

Why do this publicly?
Arab News

Rethinking Afghanistan and the war on drugs
Houston Chronicle

 
Afghanistan • Taliban • suicide bombing • diplomat • Musa Qala • Michael Semple • Mervin Patterson • Helmand province

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