even UN workers were killed and another two injured, while four protesters were killed and 22 others injured, on Friday in northern Afghan city of Mazar-e- Sharif following a protest demonstration against the reported burning of Muslim holy book Quran in the United States a couple of days ago, Afghan Interior Ministry official told Xinhua.

The protest demonstration was launched by locals after Friday congregation to condemn the reported burning of Quran by a priest couple of days ago in the United States, but unfortunately some elements with vicious designs availing opportunity attacked the compound of UN office and killed eight employees of the world body, police spokesman in the northern region Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai asserted.

"Some elements with vicious design among protesters attacked the compound, opened fire and killed eight foreign workers of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Mazar- e-Sharif office," Ahmadzai told Xinhua.

"United Nations personnel working in Afghanistan have been killed today after demonstrators attacked a UN compound in the country's northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif," the statement asserted.

However, it did not mention the number and the nationalities of those killed and injured in the attack by saying, "The exact number of UN staff killed is not yet clear and UNAMA is working to ascertain all the facts and to take care of affected staff."

"Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and the head of UNAMA, is now traveling to Mazar-i-Sharif to deal with the situation," the statement stated.

Moreover, a similar demonstration but peaceful one was held on Friday in the western city of Herat to condemn the reported burning of Quran in the Untied States and the demonstrators dispersed peacefully.

However, Zamari Bashari, spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, told Xinhua late at Friday night, "Seven foreigners were killed, while another two were injured. At the same time, four protesters were killed and another 22 injured during the fire exchange."

Bashari did not clarify who is the other side of the fire exchange, only saying that "the investigation is going on."

"Some of those elements involved in the tragic incident have been arrested and investigation is underway to identify the network behind the crime," Ahmadzai further said.

Five of those killed in the incident, according to a local official who declined to be identified, could be Nepalese.

Meanwhile, a statement released by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed the killing of its staff in Mazar-e-Sharif city.

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