"The Inter-Parliamentary Union strongly condemns the suicide attack that took the lives of more than 40 people, including six members of the Parliament of Afghanistan and many children. This act is an utterly reprehensible act", said the President of the IPU, Mr. Pier Ferdinando Casini.

According to press reports the bomb exploded at a sugar factory in a town of the Baghlan province while a delegation of parliamentarians was visiting. Among the six legislators killed was Mustafa Kazimi, a prominent opposition figure.

The IPU sends its condolences to the Parliament of Afghanistan and to the families of the victims of the blast.

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Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation, currently brings together 146 affiliated parliaments and seven regional assemblies as associate members. The world organisation of parliaments has an Office in New York, which acts as its Permanent Observer at the United Nations.
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