United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the release of one of the three UN staff members abducted in Niger last December, calling on kidnappers to free the rest two Canadian diplomats "without any further delay."

In a statement issued here by his spokesperson, Ban said he is pleased to know Soumana Mounkaila, who was abducted in Niger on Dec. 14, "has been released unharmed."

Mounkaila, a driver employed by the UN Development Program, was set free over the weekend following the efforts of several governments and people in the region.

UN special envoy for Niger Robert Fowler is still being held together with his aide, Louis Guay. The two were believed being kidnapped by rebels in Niger.

The secretary-general urged the kidnappers again on Monday to "release them both without any further delay."

Fowler, 64, who was also former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, was abducted while he was on an official UN mission to find ways to settle a growing conflict between governments and local rebels in Niger.

Source:Xinhua