ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: Pakistani diplomats and staff in the Afghan city of Herat were not affected by an attack on Sunday by a mob in an area near the Pakistan consulate.

However, an adjoining UN building housing the offices of United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) was set on fire by the mob protesting against the removal of Governor Ismail Khan by President Hamid Karzai.

When contacted, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said that Pakistani diplomats in Kabul and Herat were safe. He said the diplomats and staff of the consulate sought refuge in a neighbouring house when the nearby UNAMA building came under attack.

He said the consulate itself did not come under attack. According to senior security officials, the attack was not targeted against Pakistan. An official said the protesters clashed with US and Afghan security forces in the western Afghan city and set fire to some buildings.

Seven persons were reported dead during clashes between supporters of Ismail Khan and security forces. On Saturday, the Afghan government replaced Ismail Khan ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for October 9.

The sources said the United Nations had been calling for disarming the local warlords to control an atmosphere of intolerance in the region that could put the Oct 9 presidential elections in jeopardy.

The UNAMA is coordinating the conduct of elections by providing assistance to the Afghan Joint Election Management Body (JEMB). On Saturday, a statement issued by President Hamid Karzai's government said that Ismail Khan, the governor of Herat, had been promoted to the national minister of mines and industry.

Ismail Khan was a critic of Mr Karzai. Sources said a statement issued by the US embassy in Kabul said that US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad had talked to Ismail Khan regarding his new assignment. The statement reportedly quoted Ismail Khan as telling the ambassador that he was unable to accept the ministerial position but promised to work for peace and prosperity of the country.