(BRUSSELS) - The European Union's French presidency on Monday condemned the killing of the UN Development Programme head in the Somali capital.

"It is with emotion and indignation that we learned of Osman Ali Ahmed's murder," the EU's French presidency said in a statement.

"We condemn this vile act which targetted by way of Osman Ali Ahmed the United Nation's actions for the Somali people," it added.

Ahmed became the latest victim in a string of attacks on aid workers in the lawless country when gunmen shot him at close-range as he left a mosque on Sunday.

The EU presidency said his killing highlighted "the necessity of rapidly implementing" a ceasefire agreement that was struck between warring factions on June 9 in neighbouring Djibouti.

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