UN steps up Bali security

2007-12-12 07:26

Nusa Dua, Indonesia - Security was stepped up around a major UN conference on climate change in Bali on Wednesday, where UN chief Ban Ki-moon denounced deadly car bombings on UN offices in Algiers.

Ahead of the official launch of the day's talks, heads of government and environment ministers held a minute of silence in memory of at least 26 people - including 11 United Nations employees - killed in Tuesday's attack.

"This attack is an attack on all of us and the ideas that we hold dear. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families," said conference president Rachmat Witoelar.

Ban earlier opened a day of talks among senior delegates by reading out a statement issued overnight voicing "shock, outrage and anger" at the attack.

He made the statement from Bali amid tightened security as environment ministers were meeting for the final leg of the December 3-14 forum on addressing the global warming crisis.

Troops, bomb-detector trucks and helicopters were deployed around the perimeter of the conference centre, which is technically United Nations ground for the duration of the talks.

Most vehicles were forbidden from entering the main venue of the talks, while armed soldiers stood guard on intersections across the tourist enclave of Nusa Dua, where hotels are hosting delegates and side events.

Security 'gone up another notch'

Security was high before Wednesday and had already been scheduled to be reinforced for the three-day ministerial-level meeting, "but it's gone up another notch after what happened in Algiers", a UN security officer told AFP.

"If these people (the attackers) will hit a refugee office, they'll attack anything."

Bali's police spokesperson AS Reniban said that 8 000 military personnel and 8 000 police officers were stationed near the conference centre, in addition to the UN police force patrolling the summit grounds.

The army reassured participants that there was no known threat to the conference.

"Today is the peak of our activity, but we have no report of any threat from our intelligence, so we act according to our plan," said Major Kalim, a spokesperson for the Indonesian army.

Ban made no mention of any additional measures, but said the UN would launch "an immediate review of our security precautions and policies".

"The security of UN staff is paramount," he said.

- AFP