UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged Afghanistan's biggest warring faction the Taliban on November 15 to protect UN property and guarantee the safety of UN personnel.

In a statement issued by his spokesman's office, Annan said he is distressed about the attacks in Kabul on UN offices.

The UN sanctions on Afghanistan went into force Sunday after the Taliban failed to hand over the Saudi dissident Osama bin laden.

According to reports reaching here, crowds angry about the sanctions imposed on Afghanistan by the UN Security Council smashed windows and doors, furniture and computers and set fire to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) in Kabul and other offices in that country, causing extensive damage.

Tension in Kabul was reported to be high Monday as new protests were reported in other locations in Afghanistan.

UN offices in Farah also became the target of protests today with the UNHCR office being burned and a number of vehicles damaged and windows broken at the office of the UN Office for Project Service.

No UN staff has been injured in these attacks.