Wednesday, November 20, 2013
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday strongly
condemned the deadly attacks on a police station in Somalia, saying
that these terrorist acts "have caused tremendous suffering."
"The secretary-general strongly condemns the deadly attacks today
against a police station in Beledweyne, Somalia, which follow a number
of similar attacks on the Somali people in recent weeks," said a
statement issued here by Ban's spokesman.
"These acts of terrorism against the government and people of Somalia have caused tremendous suffering," said the statement.
A suicide car bomb hit the gate of the police station in the central
Somali town of Beledweyne which is the provincial capital of central
Somalia region of Hiran, a commercial hub that connects southern and
northern Somalia. At least 19 people were reportedly killed in the
attacks.
Beledweyne, located 300 km north of Mogadishu, is the base for the
Djiboutian contingent of the African Union peacekeeping Mission in
Somalia, known as AMISOM.
The radical group of Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the
attack, saying several police officers were killed in the explosion,
reports said.
The secretary-general expressed his sincere condolences to the
families of those killed and his sympathies to those injured, the
statement said, adding that Ban paid tribute to the forces, especially
the police, who courageously repelled the attack.
"The secretary-general is determined to support the Somali government
in preventing such attacks, and in keeping the country on the path to
peace and security," the statement said. "He reiterates the commitment
of the United Nations to support the Federal Government of Somalia, its
institutions and the Somali people."
Also on Tuesday, the Somali government strongly condemned the
attacks. Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon described the attacks
as "cowardly," saying "once again the enemies of peace show their true
colors to Somalia and the world."
The UN envoy to Somalia, Nicolas Kay, said in tweet: "Horrific and
pointless attack in Beletweyne. Contemptible. Deep sympathy for the
victims."