SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS BRUTAL KILLING OF ACTING HEAD OF UNITED NATIONS

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OFFICE IN SOMALIA BY UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General condemns the brutal killing of the acting head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Mogadishu yesterday by unidentified gunmen.  He expresses his heartfelt sympathies to the victim’s family and colleagues, as well as to those injured in the attack.  The killing of Osman Ali Ahmed is a loss not only for the United Nations but also for the Somali people, who are the ultimate victims when humanitarian workers and aid officials are targeted in this way.

The Secretary-General encourages all Somalis to reflect on this latest senseless act of violence and to work together in the search for peace and reconciliation.

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For information media • not an official record