15/01/2008
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is setting up an independent panel to investigate the Algiers suicide bomb attacks that claimed the lives of 17 UN employees, Ban's spokeswoman, Michele Montas, announced on Monday (January 14th). The panel, which will include non-UN international experts, will be charged with establishing "all the facts concerning the Algiers attack and also to address ... staff security for the United Nations in its operations around the world," Montas said, adding that the Secretary-General hopes for "the full co-operation of the Algerian governmental authorities". Ban's decision to open the inquiry followed a preliminary report submitted at the end of last week by UN Undersecretary-General for Safety and Security David Veness.