Annan condemns Taleban air raid

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has deplored the recent air raid by the Taleban in Afghanistan on an airfield being used by the UN to deliver food aid.

In a written statement, Mr Annan said the airfield -- at Bamian, in the centre of the country -- was attacked and UN personnel endangered despite clearances received in advance from the Taleban.

Earlier, the UN said the Taleban had rejected an appeal for it to be allowed to resume the airlift of emergency food supplies.

The affected area is controlled by the forces of the anti-Taleban alliance.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service