March 11, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 2, 1429

KABUL, March 10: The United Nations said on Monday it would accelerate its work in support of the people of war-torn Afghanistan under the world body’s new special envoy, a Norwegian diplomat. UN chief Ban Ki-moon has nominated Kai Eide, 59, as his special representative to Afghanistan after President Hamid Karzai rejected his first choice, British politician Paddy Ashdown.

“Under his renewed leadership, UNAMA will reinforce its mission of assistance to the Afghan people and support the government institutions under the leadership of President Karzai,” said Christopher Alexander, the UN deputy special representative for Afghanistan.

“We need to accelerate our work, we need to coordinate an effort that is larger than ever and more complex than ever before, and we need to focus on implementations,” Alexander told reporters in Kabul.—AFP