UN chief criticises 'barbaric attack' in eastern Afghanistan

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday condemned "in the strongest terms the barbaric attack" in Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan, calling for those responsible for this act "to be swiftly brought to justice."

"The secretary-general condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric attack carried out today in Jalalabad, in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, which killed at least 35 people and injured more than 100 others," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman.

"He calls for those responsible for this act to be swiftly brought to justice," the statement said.

The secretary-general extended his deepest condolences to families of the victims and to the Afghan government and urged all Afghans to remain united in rejecting terrorism and violent extremism, said the statement.

The blast happened at around 8:00 a.m. (0330 GMT) outside a bank where government staff and military personnel were collecting their salaries, reports said.