NEW YORK - The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest possible terms the coordinated attacks that were carried out yesterday and today against state institutions and international organisations, including foreign diplomatic missions, in Kabul and in other parts of Afghanistan.

 The Secretary-General notes the efforts by the Afghan National Security Forces in responding to these events.

It is ordinary Afghans who ultimately bear the brunt of such attacks. The Secretary-General calls on the parties to the conflict to take all possible measures for the protection of civilians.

New York, 16 April 2012