UN condemns 'despicable' al-Shabab attack in Somalia

20 June 2013 Last updated at 00:10 GMT

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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed outrage over a "despicable" attack by Islamists on a UN office in Somalia which killed 15 people.

He also stressed the UN "would not be deterred from delivering its mandate" in Somalia, Mr Ban's spokesman said.

The attackers detonated a car bomb outside the UN mission in the capital Mogadishu, then engaged security forces in a fierce gun-battle.

The al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab later said it was behind the attack.

This is the first time the UN offices have been attacked since it recently relaunched its mission in Somalia.

'Act of desperation'

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Analysis

Mark DoyleBBC International Development Correspondent

The UN compound in Mogadishu is just a few hundred metres from the airport where thousands of African Union troops are based. It is in the heart of one of the most sensitive and theoretically well-guarded areas of the city. But following the audacious attack the gateway into the compound is now a wreck of twisted metal and rubble.

For more than a year now the Somali government - and its Western and African backers - have been lauding improved security in Somalia. At a diplomatic conference in London in February, hosted by the British Prime Minister David Cameron, there was optimistic talk about the new government which was for the first time elected by a parliament.

It is true that the militant Islamist al-Shabab group has been forced, by African Union troops, to leave most of their military positions in the city. But this attack shows that opponents of the government still have the capacity to hit a high-profile target which should be one of the best protected locations in the country.

Mr Ban was "deeply concerned and outraged by the despicable attack" on the UN Development Programme office, his spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

The raid was also condemned by the 15-member UN Security Council, which reiterated its "determination to combat all forms of terrorism".

UN envoy to Somalia, Nicholas Kay, who was not hurt in the attack, told the BBC the world body would continue its mission in helping Somalia build peace and development.

He said Somalia had "turned a corner" after decades of conflict, and al-Shabab attacks like the one of Wednesday were "acts of desperation".

"At this stage our firm intent is to stick to the mission and not abandon Somalia," he said.

He added that one UNDP international staff member, three contractors working for a South African company and four Somali guards were killed in the attack.

All seven al-Shabab gunmen died in the raid and officials said pro-government forces later secured the compound.

The UN has only recently expanded its operations in Mogadishu after years when its Somalia mission was based in neighbouring Kenya because of security fears.