UN to expand mission in Afghanistan

Kabul, Dec 17 (Xinhua) In its efforts to further support the war-torn country, the UN will expand its mission in Afghanistan, UN Secretary General's special envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide said Wednesday.

'You will see next year robust UN mission in Afghanistan,' Eide told a press conference here.

'We would open four offices in 2009,' he said without elaborating in which provinces the new offices would be established.

The UN Assistant Mission (UNAMA) headed by Eide which has already established its presence in several relatively peaceful provinces opened its office in Trinkot, the capital of Uruzgan province, in the volatile south couple of months ago.

Kai Eide, who assumed office as the world organisation's chief special envoy to Afghanistan last April, stressed for strengthening peace, stability and reconstruction process of the war-battered central Asian state.

'My hope is to bring economic development and stability to the Afghan people,' he said.

He also emphasised the importance of the role of Afghan security forces, saying it is essential to expand the Afghan Army as quickly as possible.