The number of UN staff killed in a bombing that damaged two of its buildings in Algiers three days ago has risen to 17 after several bodies were found in the rubble.
Al Qaeda's North African wing claimed responsibility for twin car bombs on Tuesday that killed more than 30 people in all at the UN offices and a court building, saying it had targeted "the slaves of America and France."
The United Nations had confirmed 11 deaths up until this afternoon's announcement that after further clearance work was carried out today more bodies were found.
"The efforts on the ground to clear away the rubble following the bomb blast at the UN offices in Algeria last Tuesday have, as we feared, helped us find and identify more bodies," said UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has asked UN staff to observe a minute's silence on Monday.
"I have learned with profound sadness that the death toll on the bombing in Algiers is even higher than we feared," Mr Ban said in a statement.