The United Nations was outraged Tuesday at the terrorist attacks in Algerian capital of Algiers earlier in the day that have reportedly killed dozens of people, including a number of U.N. staff members.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, leading a chorus of condemnation, said "words cannot express my sense of shock, outrage and anger at the terrorist attack on the United Nations mission in Algiers today."
"This was an abjectly cowardly strike against civilian officials serving humanity's highest ideals under the U.N. banner -- base, indecent and unjustifiable by even the most barbarous political standard," he stated in Bali, where he is currently traveling.
Ban said he has instructed senior advisers from his Executive Office, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Safety and Security to proceed to Algiers immediately.
"We will take every possible measure to aid those injured in the attack and their families," he observed. "The security of U.N. staff is paramount. We will take every measure to ensure their safety, in Algeria and elsewhere, beginning with an immediate review of our security precautions and policies."
The U.N. Security Council joined its voice with that of the secretary-general, underlining the need to bring those responsible for the attacks to justice.
In a statement read out by Ambassador Marcello Spatafora of Italy, which holds the council's rotating presidency for this month, the 15-member body urged all countries to cooperate with the Algerian authorities in this regard.
According to the United Nations, at approximately 10:30 on Tuesday morning in Algiers, the UNDP office collapsed following an explosion, which local authorities have indicated was caused by a car bomb. Another car bomb exploded near the country's Constitutional Court. No one has so far claimed responsibility.
U.N. spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters at the U.N Headquarters in New York that while the organization could not provide any figures of fatalities until it had confirmed proof of deaths and the families had been informed, preliminary information indicates there may be five deaths.
She said the United Nations is checking with hospitals, examining the site of the blast and trying to obtain any proof of deaths, noting that rescue efforts are also continuing, adding that it is trying to account for 14 people.
The world body has a total of 40 international staff presently in Algeria, including 19 international staff based there and an additional 21 that are there temporarily, as well as about 115 local U.N. staff in the capital.
Source: Xinhua
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