Kabul  - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived on a surprise visit to Afghanistan Wednesday, a day after the world body asked international donors to provide 603 million dollars for humanitarian aid for the war-wracked country.

The UN chief was scheduled to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and leaders of the national assembly during his second visit of the country since taking office in late 2006, the UN office in Kabul said in a statement.

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.

New York  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Sri Lanka's warring parties on Friday to open a safe corridor and allow an estimated 250,000 civilians trapped in the fighting to escape.

Ban welcomed President Mahinda Rajapaksa's announcement of safe passage for all civilians trapped in the area of intense fighting in the North to a secure environment. But he said serious concern remained for the 250,000 civilians caught in the area close to the fighting.

New York  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Friday the decision by Zimbabwe's main opposition party to join President Robert Mugabe's government following five months of a political rift.

Ban said in a statement that Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai was complying with an agreement reached last September and the recent demand by the Southern African Development Community heads of state for a government of national unity in Zimbabwe.