U.N. to move foreign staff in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The United Nations, whose Kabul staff hostel was hit by militants last week, will move some foreign workers out of Afghanistan until security is tightened.

The BBC reported the move will affect about 600 of the U.N.'s international workers, some of whom will be moved out of the country and some within the country.

Aid work will not be affected as it is carried out by local Afghan staff, the United Nations said.

"We are not talking about pulling out. We are not talking about evacuation," Kai Eide, the Norwegian head of the U.N. Afghan mission, was quoted as saying.

Taliban militants attacked a Kabul U.N. hostel last week, killing five U.N. workers and three Afghans. Three of the attackers also were killed in the incident.

Separately, the United Nations has halted some of its long-term development work in northwestern Pakistan because of security concerns, the BBC reported. The region, near the border with Afghanistan, is believed to be a sanctuary for Taliban and al-Qaida militants.