Irish and British officials expelled from Afghanistan

AN IRISH senior EU official and a British UN representative left Afghanistan yesterday after the government ordered their expulsion, accusing them of holding talks with the Taliban and for paying cash to the group.

Irishman Michael Semple and Briton Mervin Patterson, have lived and worked in Afghanistan for more than a decade, even during the rule of the Taliban that was toppled by the US-led invasion in 2001.

The expulsions have caused a diplomatic row between the government and key aid agencies who fear the loss of two such experienced Afghan hands could hinder muilti-million-dollar reconstruction and development efforts.