Top UN official outraged by Orlando shooting

he president of the United Nations General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft, on Monday expressed his "anger, outrage and deep sorrow for the victims" killed in the Sunday mass shooting in Orlando in the U.S. state of Florida.

The president, in a statement issued here by his spokesperson, called the worst mass shooting in U.S. history by a lone gunman "a misguided and despicable act of barbarism."

Lykketoft expressed his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who were murdered in cold blood while simply enjoying a night out with their friends, the statement said.

"He also expressed solidarity with and extended his deepest sympathies to the government and People of the United States," the statement said.

"He called on Governments and people everywhere to get together and commit to support even stronger global, national and local efforts to prevent the spread of hatred and violent extremism," the statement said.

On Sunday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the "horrific attack" and extended his "deepest condolences" to the families of the victims and expresses his solidarity with the government and people of the United States, said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman.

A gunman wielding an assault-type rife and a handgun killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in a nightclub in Orlando early Sunday in the worst mass shooting in the U.S. history.

U.S. President Barack Obama decried the tragedy as an "act of terror" and "act of hatred."

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.

But President Obama said Monday that the Orlando shooting was "homegrown extremism" and there was no clear evidence indicating the shooter was directed from abroad. Endit