The members of the Security Council on Monday observed a minute of silence separately for the victims of a terrorist attack in Niger and for the 10th anniversary of a devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Before the start of the council's regular program of work, Vietnamese ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, in his capacity as president of the council, said the council strongly condemned Thursday's terrorist attack in Niger and asked all people in the council chamber to stand and observe a minute of silence for the 89 soldiers killed.

Niger's UN ambassador, Abdou Abarry, thanked the council members for their solidarity. He also thanked the UN staff in his country and his country's allies, particularly France and the United States. Without their support, the victims would certainly have been more numerous, he said.

Both Niger and Vietnam are elected members of the Security Council. Vietnam is holding the council presidency for the month of January.

Ambassador Quy then asked for a minute of silence for the 10th anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti, which killed 102 UN staff members along with hundreds of thousands of Haitians.

The United Nations is holding a series of events to commemorate the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake.