Press Release - 30 April 2005

Presidential Palace, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is deeply saddened by a violent incident during the Education festival yesterday in Herat, which caused the death of 2 women and injured 7 people.

In his reaction to the news, the President said: "I am deeply saddened by this incident which took place during a happy gathering of our youth and their parents. I present my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and I wish a quick recovery to the injured".

The President has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident to determine the facts and bring the culprits to severe punishment. A team of the Ministry of the Interior and Defense, the National Director for Security and the prosecutor general's office has been sent to Herat.

Released by the Office of the Spokesman to the President
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan