UN chief Ban Ki-moon Wednesday condemned the terrorist attack on the United Nations mission in Algiers, the capital of Algeria.
The attack have reportedly killed dozens of people, including a number of UN staff members.
Seven Chinese workers were injured in the car bombing attack, sources of China State Construction Engineering Corporation's Algeria office said.
"Words cannot express my sense of shock, outrage and anger at the terrorist attack on the United Nations mission in Algiers today," said the UN chief who arrived in Bali, Indonesia, on Tuesday to attend the U.N. high- climate change conference.
"This was an abjectly cowardly strike against civilian officials serving humanity's highest ideals under the UN banner -base, indecent and unjustifiable by even the most barbarous political standard," he said.
"We do not yet have an accurate count of the many casualties, both among UN staff and the local population. But our hearts go out to the victims. Their sacrifice cannot and shall not be forgotten. The perpetrators of these crimes will not escape the strongest possible condemnation - and ultimate punishment - by Algerian authorities and the international community," he said.
"I have instructed senior advisers from my Executive Office, UNDP and the Department of Safety and Security to proceed to Algiers immediately," he said, adding that" We will take every possible measure to aid those injured in the attack and their families. 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 UN 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 UN staff in the capital.
Source: Xinhua
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