The United Nations on Thursday issued a joint statement with African, European and Middle East regional organizations to "strongly condemn" suicide car bombing in western Somalia which killed at least 20 people including the Somali national security minister.

The United Nations released the joint statement with African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the InterGovernmental Agency on Development (IGAD) in eastern Africa and the League of Arab States (LAS).

The joint statement said that all the five international organizations "strongly condemn today's horrific car bombing in Beledweyne which killed the (Somali) national security minister, Omar Hashi Aden, along with community leaders and other innocent Somalis."

"This deplorable attack once again demonstrates that the extremists will stop at nothing in their desperate attempt to seize power from the legitimate government of Somalia by force," the statement said.

"These extremists, both Somali and foreigners, failed in their recent attempt coup d'etat but are continuing their indiscriminate violence," the statement said. "They are a threat not only to the country, but to the IGAD region and the international community."

"We urge the government not to be deterred by the violent crimes of a small minority and to continue its efforts for peace and reconciliation through the Djibouti Process," the statement said.

"The Somali people, both inside and outside the country, are yearning for peace and they must not be denied," the statement said. "A swift investigation is needed to identify the names and nationalities of the suicide bombers behind this assassination."

"The AU, EU, IGAD, LAS and UN send their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Minister Hashi and to the other victims of this cowardly suicide bombing, as well as to the government and the people of Somalia," the statement said.

"We pledge our full support to the government, particularly at this critical time, and call for all Somalis to rally behind all those who are working for peace and stability," the statement said. "We also call on the international community to put its full support behind Somalia's legal and legitimate government."

Somali Information Minister Farhan Ali Mohamud announced the death of Minister Hashi but declined to give any other details, reports said.