Afghanistan on Tuesday ordered a top European Union official and a United Nations employee to leave the country for allegedly threatening national security.
Government spokesman Humayun Hamidzada said authorities had detained the pair -- one British, the other Irish -- along with their Afghan colleagues who are being investigated.
The spokesman said the two, based in southern Helmand province, were involved in activities outside their mandate. He said they have been declared persona non grata and have been given 48 hours to leave.
The two men are accused of having meetings with different tribes and groups, including possibly the Taliban.
One European diplomat said there is hope the incident is a result of a misunderstanding. A U.N. spokesman, Aleem Siddique, said the U.N. mission in Afghanistan is trying to clarify the situation.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
