New York  - The attack that killed a UN staff member and resulted in the kidnapping of an official with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan was condemned in the "strongest terms" by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday.

Syed Hashim died in the attack while his companion, American John Solecki, was kidnapped while traveling in Quetta, Pakistan, by unknown assailants, local police said.

In Washington, the US State Department said it was looking into reports of the kidnapping, but could not confirm the victim's identity as an American.

New York  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday congratulated Iraq for holding provincial elections that were transparent, credible and free of violence.

The elections on Saturday "strengthened Iraq's democracy and further the cause of national reconciliation," Ban said in a statement.

Islamabad  - Unidentified gunmen on Monday kidnapped a senior official of the United Nations refugee agency in Pakistan's south-western province of Balochistan, police said.

The kidnappers intercepted the marked Land Cruiser carrying the local head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees soon after he left his residence in the provincial capital, Quetta, a police duty officer said.

The vehicle ploughed into the wall of a house after its Pakistani driver was shot by the attackers. He later died at hospital.

"The gunmen dragged the UN official into their vehicle and took off," the police officer said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

Kabul  - Following nearly 20 per cent reduction in poppy cultivation in 2008, a joint Afghan and United Nations survey released Sunday predicted a further decrease in cultivation this year, but said the illegal crop was still mostly grown in the volatile southern region.

"I am pleased to announce that during 2009 a further decrease in poppy cultivation is expected," General Khoaidad, Afghan minister of counter narcotics told reporters in a press conference in Kabul.

Yangon  - United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Yangon Saturday morning for talks on national reconciliation between Myanmar's military junta and opposition groups.

Gambari was seeking during his four-day visit to revive his unsuccessful efforts to push the junta to free opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and thousands of other political prisoners and to allow democratic reforms in the military dictatorship.

Yangon  - The United Nations special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, is scheduled to meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on an official visit expected to start this weekend, government sources said Friday.

Gambari is expected to arrive in Yangon on Saturday to revive his so far unsuccessful efforts to push Myanmar's ruling junta to free Suu Kyi and thousands of other political prisoners and to allow democratic reforms in the military dictatorship.