The top U.N. envoy in Somalia on Wednesday condemned the Al-Shabaab militants' attack on Villa Somalia, the presidential palace and the seat of the government. Nicholas Kay, the secretary-general's special representative, told reporters from Villa Somalia that the United Nations would continue to support Somalia, and that "political progress in this country is only possible through the unity of its political institutions, which is why they are being attacked by those determined to plunge Somalia back into turmoil." Kay commended the Somali and African Unity security forces on successfully handling the attack, learning from Al-Shabaab's recent attacks, and improving their security services.
