UN Chief considers probe into Algeria attack that killed 17 staffers

UN, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hinted at an independent probe of last month's twin suicide truck bombings that killed 17 UN staffers in Algeria.

Ban also said that the United Nations had no advance word of the attack, responding to reports of warnings beforehand.

"First of all, the UN has not received any advance warnings from whatsoever sources on this issue," Ban told reporters Monday.

Ban acknowledged the potential need for an outside investigation in the wake of a 2003 report that found U.N. security systems "dysfunctional" and the unmet concerns of a UN security officer, Babacar Ndiaye, who had sought to have concrete barriers erected to limit vehicles' access to the United Nations offices in Algeria. Ndiaye died in the Dec. 11 attacks.

"That's a good point. That is why we are now working very hard," Ban said at his first press conference of the year. "I'm very cautiously looking at this matter."

Ban is awaiting a report by the end of this week on the Algiers bombings from Britain's David Veness, the top UN security and safety official.

At least 37 people were killed in the attacks, which also struck a government building. Al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa claimed responsibility.

It was the worst attack against UN staff since the August 2003 bombing at U.N. headquarters in Baghdad that killed 22 people.

The U.N. Staff Union on Monday reiterated its demand for a global security review of all UN premises, and pressed for "a full and independent investigation to determine why adequate security was not in place" at Algiers, including whether there were any warnings before the attack.

Ban appears to be quickly trying to meet all those demands.

"We are going to strengthen the measures for the safety and security of our staff and premises," he said.

United Nations, Tuesday, AP