Charity shuts office after murder

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A charity has suspended operations in Afghanistan after a British volunteer was murdered in the capital Kabul.

Gayle Williams, 34, was shot dead by two gunmen as she walked to the offices of UK-based Serve Afghanistan.

The Taleban said they killed her for spreading Christianity. She had been based there for two-and-a-half years.

Chairman, Mike Lyth, said he did not want to be "cowed" by the Taleban but said there was "deep concern" for his staff - both Afghan and foreign.

The aid agency, which educates and trains disabled people, may now operate with Afghan staff alone, or even withdraw altogether.

Its offices have been closed and foreign workers have been told to stay at home while it assesses security.

We have been committed for 20 years and we will continue to be committed to the Afghan people... this is the action of a few Afghans - we are more sorry than angry Mike LythChairman, Serve Afghanistan<a class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7681764.stm">Mother's tribute to Gayle</a> Serve Afghanistan has 15 expatriate volunteers and 200 local staff and so far none of its foreign workers have asked to leave despite being told they can do so at any time.

Mr Lyth said the charity wants to continue its work.

"We have been committed for 20 years and we will continue to be committed to the Afghan people," he said.

"This is the action of a few Afghans. We are more sorry than angry."

He said the Taleban tend to hire criminals to do their "hit jobs" in the city but it is not clear whether it was a random or targeted attack.

Other aid agencies are reviewing their security after the murder.

Christian Aid said it had no plans to pull out of Afghanistan, where it has two international staff and a small team of local workers.

The offices of Serve Afghanistan in Kabul where Gayle Williams worked

A spokesman said: "Arrangements for their safety are kept under constant review. We work with local partners where the need is greatest, irrespective of race or religion."

Dominic O'Reilly, UK director of Afghanaid, said: "We will review our security, but will continue to use female staff.

"We employ low-profile security and prefer not to use armed guards, but we do review arrangements on a daily basis.

"We are a much softer target than the military. Unfortunately I don't think this will be the last casualty."

Attempting to convert people to another religion is illegal in Afghanistan and militants have targeted Christians in the past.