UNITED NATIONS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday condemned "in the strongest terms" a deadly terrorist attack in the Afghan capital of Kabul, reiterating its "serious concern" at the threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other terrorist and extremist groups.
"The members of the Security Council reiterated their condemnation of the actions of anybody who carries out terrorist attacks against civilians, or attempts to disrupt elections by targeting election personnel, candidates or infrastructure," said the 15-nation council in a statement issued to the press here.
"The members of the Security Council reiterated their serious concern at the threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other terrorist and extremist groups, and illegal armed groups to the local population, national security forces and international military and international assistance efforts in Afghanistan," the statement said.
Two blasts struck a convoy carrying Afghan presidential hopeful Abdullah Abdullah after a campaign event Friday in Kabul, killing six civilians and injuring some 20 others, but leaving the candidate himself unharmed, reports said.
The attack came just over a week before a runoff vote to choose a new leader to replace President Hamid Karzai. The Taliban has vowed to disrupt the balloting, although the first round on April 5 was relatively peaceful. Friday's attack was the first to directly target one of the candidates in Kabul.
"The members of the Security Council underlined their support for Afghanistan's democratic processes, and looked forward to the second round of the presidential election and the continued orderly transition to a new administration," the statement said.
The vote came at a pivotal time as the international community prepares to withdraw combat forces by the end of the year. Both presidential candidates have pledged to sign a security pact with the United States that will allow thousands of foreign forces to remain in the country after the deadline in a training and advisory capacity.
The council members expressed their deep sympathy with and condolences to the families of the victims, and to the people and government of Afghanistan, said the statement, adding that they wished the injured a speedy recovery.
"The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Afghan authorities in this regard," the statement said.
"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group," it said.
"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need and reiterated their determination to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and all obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts," the statement said.
"The members of the Security Council reiterated that no terrorist act can reverse the path towards Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan, which is supported by the people and the Government of Afghanistan and by the international community," it added.
Nobody has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but it bore the hallmarks of militants who are fighting against the Western-backed government, reports said.
The Taliban has unleashed a wave of deadly attacks since the campaign to replace Karzai, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.
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