TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

American U.N. Worker Taken

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 3, 2009

QUETTA - Gunmen seized an American U.N. worker as he rode to work Monday, shooting and killing his driver, U.N. and Pakistani authorities said. His Land Cruiser was found rammed against a wall, punctured by at least one bullet hole.

The United Nations expressed "extreme shock and dismay" at the rare attack in a region that has largely been spared the al-Qaida and Taliban insurgency wracking much of northwestern Pakistan.

The government called the abduction of John Solecki, head of the U.N. refugee office in the southwestern city of Quetta, a "dastardly terrorist act." Police said it was not clear whether Islamist militants, criminals seeking a ransom payment or members of a regional separatist group were responsible.

Quetta is the capital of Baluchistan province, which partly borders Afghanistan. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has worked for three decades in the region helping hundreds of thousands of Afghans fleeing violence in their homeland.

Police increased patrols and security checks along roads leading to Afghanistan, about 60 miles away, fearing Solecki may be taken there.

The Associated Press

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT