UN chief slams deadly attacks on police station in Somalia

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."