Kabul - Afghan President Hamed Karzai ordered an investigation into the gang rape of a 12-year-old girl in northern Sar-e-Pul province, a statement said Wednesday.

Five armed men reportedly forced their way a house, beat the family members and raped the girl, the president's office said.

"The president called it 'villainy and crime against humanity,' and asked the interior minister and deputy head of the Afghan intelligence department to investigate and arrest those involved in the case," the statement said.

Karzai also asked the authorities to submit a report on another similar case that occurred in the same province.

Lal Gul, chairman of the Afghan Human Rights Organization, blamed warlords based in northern provinces.

"Earlier, some armed men kidnapped a teenaged girl, raped her and kept her in custody for more than two weeks, but still the criminals are not punished," he said.

He said those involved in kidnapping and rape of teenagers in northern provinces are powerful people armed with illegal weapons.

Local administrations are often unable or unwilling to make arrests in those kinds of crimes, he said. (dpa)