国际英语新闻：UN cafeteria remains closed due to "suspicious envelope"

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN cafeteria remained closed on Friday after it was evacuated on Thursday afternoon due to "suspicious envelope" found in the area, and the white powder is still being tested, said a UN official, who declined to be identified.

A UN security officer told Xinhua here Friday that they are waiting for the response from the New York City police, who, representing the host city, are testing the white powder found in the suspicious envelope discovered in the UN cafeteria, located on the first floor of the UN Secretariat Building.

Farhan Haq, the associate UN spokesman, told reporters on Friday that "the cafeteria will remain closed" and "the host country is testing" the substance found in the envelope.

Referring to the United States as the host country of the United Nations, Haq said that he believes the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection is engaged in the testing, and once their lab results are known, the UN will keep the press informed.

Haq said on Thursday that the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) said that they found a "suspicious envelope" in the cafeteria, and "the area is temporarily closed and that area has been contained."

"The DSS is working with host country to investigate the matter," Farhan said, referring to the United States which hosts the world body.

The cafeteria was closed at around 14:30 EST on Thursday, and cafeteria staff members, some in white working uniform, were seen standing in the south lobby which is close to the entrance to the cafeteria.

The UN Secretariat Building is located on the First Avenue, between the 42nd Street and 48th Street in Manhattan, the central New York City.

The United Nations, which leads the world in anti-terrorism campaign, often stages drill against fire and other terrorist acts.

On November 11, 2009, Russia became the sixth U.N. mission in New York City to receive a letter containing white powder after an envelope was found at the diplomatic post on Manhattan's Upper East Side overnight.

The U.N. missions of Austria, France, Britain, Germany and Uzbekistan all received letters containing white powder over the past two days. More than 40 people were decontaminated as a precaution after the letters were found.

The U.S. authorities have been on alert for mail with white powder in it since 2001, when envelopes laced with anthrax were sent to media outlets and U.S. lawmakers, killing five people.