Following the bomb attack on its headquarters in Iraq, the United Nations has decided to pull out at least a third of its staff out of the country even as the toll in Tuesday's attack went up to 23.

Over 85 employees were injured in the attack and several persons are still unaccounted for. For the time being, some of the UN personnel will be shifted to nearby countries.

Meanwhile, the Al Arabiya television channel on Thursday said it had received a statement from an obscure group called 'Armed Vanguards of the Second Muhammad Army' claiming responsibility for the attack. The group warned that it would continue attacking 'foreigners'.

However, US officials are sceptical of such claims.

Agencies