This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7159961.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan expels top officials | Afghanistan expels top officials |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two high-ranking officials from the European Union and the United Nations - one British, the other Irish - have been ordered to leave Afghanistan. | Two high-ranking officials from the European Union and the United Nations - one British, the other Irish - have been ordered to leave Afghanistan. |
| The two men, based in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, had been holding meetings with different tribes and groups, including the Taleban. | The two men, based in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, had been holding meetings with different tribes and groups, including the Taleban. |
| They have been given 48 hours to leave the country and the UN has said that it will comply with the request. | They have been given 48 hours to leave the country and the UN has said that it will comply with the request. |
| But officials hope to resolve what they have called a misunderstanding. | But officials hope to resolve what they have called a misunderstanding. |
| 'Intense diplomacy' | |
| Alastair Leithead, BBC correspondent in Kabul, said the two, one of whom was acting head of the EU mission in Afghanistan, spoke to a lot of different groups across the country. | Alastair Leithead, BBC correspondent in Kabul, said the two, one of whom was acting head of the EU mission in Afghanistan, spoke to a lot of different groups across the country. |
| He said their role was to try to find out what was happening "on the ground" with tribal elders, government representatives and non-government representatives. | He said their role was to try to find out what was happening "on the ground" with tribal elders, government representatives and non-government representatives. |
| Officials have stressed these discussions should not be interpreted as support for the Taleban. | Officials have stressed these discussions should not be interpreted as support for the Taleban. |
| The BBC correspondent said people were describing the situation as a "storm in a teacup" and it was "something that has been take much further than expected". | The BBC correspondent said people were describing the situation as a "storm in a teacup" and it was "something that has been take much further than expected". |
| Intense diplomacy was continuing to try and resolve the situation, he added. | Intense diplomacy was continuing to try and resolve the situation, he added. |
| Homayun Hamidzada, spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, said: "The foreign nationals have been declared persona non grata and their Afghan colleagues have been arrested and are being investigated." | Homayun Hamidzada, spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, said: "The foreign nationals have been declared persona non grata and their Afghan colleagues have been arrested and are being investigated." |