Ban Ki-Moon to visit UN attack sites: Algiers

United Nations staff in Algeria observed a minute's silence Monday in memory of 17 colleagues killed in two bloody car bomb attacks on UN and government offices in Algiers last week. Representatives of Algeria's foreign ministry were also at the ceremony, having announced that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will visit Tuesday the two UN sites bombed in the Algerian capital on December 11.

The attacks, claimed by a local branch of Al-Qaeda, destroyed the offices of the UN High Commission for Refugees and the UN Development Programme, killing 17 employees, of whom 14 were Algerians and three foreign.

A moment of silence was similarly observed at a Paris donors' conference for a future Palestinian state, where Ban reiterated the UN's commitment to carrying out its mission. "The attacks of Algiers will never discourage us to accomplish the vital task which is ours throughout the world, regardless of the threats that weigh on our personnel," he said.

The official overall death toll was 37 but hospital sources report the blasts killed between 62 and 72 people, including students.