New York, 04 October 2011 – The Secretary-General is appalled by the vicious suicide bomb attack targeting government offices and ministries in Mogadishu today, which has killed scores of people and injured many more, including, reportedly, students who were inside the education ministry at the time of the attack. It is incomprehensible that innocents are being senselessly targeted.

The attack is all the more abhorrent coming at a time when Somali political leaders, through efforts such as the recent Mogadishu Conference, have been working together to chart a peaceful political future for Somalia.

The Secretary-General expresses his sincere condolences to families of those killed and to the Transitional Federal Government. He reiterates his call to all Somali parties to renounce violence and engage in dialogue and reconciliation to restore lasting peace to Somalia.