He also stressed the UN "would not be deterred² from delivering its mandate（授权，命令）" in Somalia, Mr Ban's spokesman said. 

 

The attackers detonated a car bomb outside the UN mission in the capital Mogadishu, then engaged security forces in a fierce gun-battle.

 

The al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab later said it was behind the attack.

 

This is the first time the UN offices have been attacked since it recently relaunched its mission in Somalia.

 

 

Mr Ban was "deeply concerned and outraged³ by the despicable attack" on the UN Development Programme office, his spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

 

The raid was also condemned⁴ by the 15-member UN Security Council, which reiterated⁵ its "determination to combat all forms of terrorism".

 

UN envoy⁶ to Somalia, Nicholas Kay, who was not hurt in the attack, told the BBC the world body would continue its mission in helping⁷ Somalia build peace and development. 

 

He said Somalia had "turned a corner" after decades of conflict, and al-Shabab attacks like the one of Wednesday were "acts of desperation". 

 

"At this stage our firm intent is to stick to the mission and not abandon Somalia," he said.

 

He added that one UNDP international staff member, three contractors⁸ working for a South African company and four Somali guards were killed in the attack. 

 

All seven al-Shabab gunmen died in the raid and officials said pro-government forces later secured the compound. 

 

The UN has only recently expanded its operations in Mogadishu after years when its Somalia mission was based in neighbouring Kenya because of security fears.

 

The UNDP office is next to the heavily fortified⁹ airport in southern Mogadishu.

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