17 UN staffers Confirmed killed in Algiers bombing
Pastor Dale Morgan
*17 UN staffers Confirmed killed in Algiers bombing*
From corresponents at the United Nations
December 15, 2007 08:25am
Article from: Agence France-Presse
SEVENTEEN United Nations staff members are confirmed to have died in
this week's car bombings in Algiers along with "a devastatingly high
number" of Algerians.
UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe told a press briefing that the earlier toll
of 11 dead had been raised to 17, most of them Algerians, after more
bodies were found in the rubble of UN facilities targeted in Tuesday's
attacks.
"Seventeen UN colleagues are now confirmed dead,'' UN chief Ban Ki-moon
said.
"A devastatingly high number of innocent Algerians have also perished,
as well as nationals from other countries,'' he added.
"I stand with the people of Algeria and the wider region in the face of
the scourge of terrorism.''
The secretary general also vowed to "spare no effort in ensuring that
the United Nations provides adequate security for its staff, wherever
they serve.''
The Algiers attacks were the bloodiest on UN facilities since the August
19, 2003 truck bomb blast at the UN office in Baghdad, which killed 22
people including special envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Two senior UN officials visited Algiers at Ban's request to assess the
aftermath of the bombings, which were claimed by the Al-Qaeda's Branch
in the Islamic Maghreb (BAQMI).
Kemal Dervis, administrator for the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and
Sir David Veness, the UN under secretary general for safety and
security, met Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem and Foreign Minister
Mourad Medelci.
Mr Dervis said Thursday that the work of the world body in Algeria would
continue, adding that it was seeking new premises for the 145 people
employed, 115 of them Algerians.
Offices of UNDP, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the
International Labour Organisation were razed in the attacks.