GENEVA (Reuters) - United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson Friday expressed concern about the suffering of Afghan civilians but denied she had called for the suspension of U.S.-led air strikes.Earlier, Robinson had been reported in remarks to Irish state radio as calling for a halt in the bombing before winter to allow food and other supplies to reach desperate Afghans.
She said that when she spoke of a pause it was in the context of President Bush's offer Thursday to the ruling Taliban of a ``second chance'' to hand over Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden.
``I heard this morning that there might be a suspension of attacks. I really hope that this is the case so that there can be a focus on saving literally hundreds of thousands of lives. We have a window of opportunity,'' she said. (Read photo caption)
Robinson, a former president of Ireland, added: ``Anything of a more political nature I would leave to the secretary-general to speak on behalf of the U.N. as a whole. Obviously his role has been very fully recognized today.''
The world body and Ghanaian-born Annan were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Friday.
PHOTO CAPTION:
United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson called on October 12, 2001 for a suspension of air strikes against Afghanistan in order to provide aid to civilians before the onset of winter. Speaking on Irish state radio, she said the situation for civilians in Afghanistan was 'desperate.' An Afghan man transports reed near Dashti Kola in northern Afghanistan near the front line of fighting between Northern Alliance forces and the Taliban. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters