United Nations, Dhu-AlQa'dah 24, 1435, Sep 19, 2014, SPA -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that he is “outraged” by an attack that resulted in the death of five Chadian peacekeepers in Mali, calling for an immediate halt to such violence. Ban’s office said in a statement that the five soldiers were killed and three others were injured Thursday when their truck was hit by an explosive device. “The Secretary-General is outraged by the attack,” the statement said. “These continued assaults against the United Nations must cease immediately.” The attack cast a shadow over peace talks in the Algerian capital between the Mali government and six armed rebel groups aimed at making a lasting peace deal in the deeply divided nation. “The Secretary-General calls on the armed groups meeting in Algiers to take immediate action on their declaration to collaborate with the (U.N.’s Mali mission) in the prevention of these cowardly attacks,” the statement said. Thursday’s attack brings the total number of peacekeepers killed in Mali to 21, according to the United Nations. --SPA 23:19 LOCAL TIME 20:19 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1274745