World leaders condemn Abuja UN House bombing
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has described Friday's deadly bombing of the UN House in Abuja as ''an assault on global peace and security'', as world leaders condemn the attack.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, Jonathan condemned the attack, which left at least 18 dead, saying it was ''barbaric, senseless and cowardly''.
The Nigerian president said he believed the attack was a despicable assault on the United Nations’ objectives of global peace and security, and the sanctity of human life to which Nigeria wholly subscribes to.
President Jonathan reaffirmed the Nigerian government's total commitment to vigorously combat all forms of terrorism rearing its head in Nigeria, reassuring all Nigerians and the international community that his administration would spare no effort to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Reports say the Nigerian Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, which has been condemned by world leaders.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who spoke with UN reporters in New York, described the bombing as a "terrible assault" on the UN family, who devote their time and energy to helping others.
Ban said he was sending two deputies - Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro and UN security chief Gregory Starr - immediately to meet officials in Nigeria.
According to him, the building houses about 400 UN staff members, as well as 26 UN development agencies and humanitarian organizations.
A statement said British Prime Minister David Cameron in a phone call with Mr Ban and Mr Jonathan, described the incident as an "appalling attack" and passed on his condolences.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy firmly condemned the attack branding it "a hateful crime".
According to a statement from his office, Sarkozy said "Any attack against the United Nations is an attack against the entire international community. In the face of this hateful crime France is more determined than ever to relentlessly fight terrorism.”
US President Barack Obama described the attack as "horrific and cowardly" offering America's condolences to the victims and their families.
Obama is quoted as saying "An attack on Nigerian and international public servants demonstrates the bankruptcy of the ideology that led to this heinous action."
Meanwhile, Ban has reportedly told a Security Council meeting that the attack was "evidence that the UN premises are increasingly being viewed as a soft target by extremist elements around the world".
Friday’s attack was the latest in a series of deadly bombings of UN buildings in recent years.
In 2007, a car bombing at the UN building in Algiers killed at least 41 people and in 2003, 22 people were killed by a bomb attack at the UN building Baghdad, including UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.
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