U.N. Security Council Holds Moment of Silence for Nice Attack Victims

U.N. Security Council envoys observed a moment of silence on Friday for the victims of the Bastille Day attack in Nice that left at least 84 dead, including many children.

The council chamber fell silent as ambassadors rose to their feet and bowed their heads at the start of a meeting called to discuss the situation in Iraq.

The 15-member council unanimously condemned the killings in a statement late Thursday, calling it a "barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack" and reaffirming that terrorism is one of the leading threats to world security.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters ahead of the meeting that there had been many expressions of support to France in the aftermath of the attack.

"We are in state of shock, deep shock," Delattre said.

"But at the same time the key word is determination, absolute determination in the fight against terrorism, both nationally and internationally."

Around 50 people remained in critical condition after a truck rammed into a crowd celebrating France's national day in the Riviera city.