Mali attack will not dim UN resolve: Ban Ki-moon

United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned an attack that killed four peacekeepers in Mali, but warned it would not diminish the United Nations` resolve to work toward peace in the country.

A suicide bomber killed four UN peacekeepers from Chad and wounded 10 other people, including six more peacekeepers and four members of the Malian armed forces in the rebel-infested northeast yesterday. Ban condemned the attack "in the strongest terms" and extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to Chad and Mali, his spokesman said in a statement. "This attack will not diminish the resolve of the United Nations to support the Malian people in their efforts to achieve peace and stability for all of Mali," the spokesman said. "The secretary-general calls on all parties not to be deterred by spoilers who, through their criminal acts, seek to prevent the establishment of a sustainable peace in Mali." It was the first major attack in the Kidal region since the government and the three main rebel groups signed a ceasefire deal in May to end days of violence in the northern desert.