UN Envoy killed in Baghdad suicide blast
The head of the UN mission in Iraq has been confirmed killed in the suicide bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
Sergio Vieira de Mello is among 15 people so far confirmed dead in an attack which injured some 100 people and brought down three floors of the hotel being used as the United Nations base.
A vehicle described by eyewitnesses as a concrete truck drove into the side of the building at 1640 local time, creating a huge explosion that was caught on camera as a televised press briefing took place elsewhere in the building.
Mr de Mello was trapped under rubble in the explosion and died several hours later, despite media reports earlier in the day that he was expected to survive.
The Pentagon states that the Ansar al-Islam terrorist group is among the most likely culprits for the attack, who earlier this month carried out an attack on the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad.
The bombing has also raised concerns that surviving members of the Baa’th party regime may be operating in organised guerrilla cells in Baghdad.
UN spokesman Fred Eckhard tonight stated that those working in Iraq would “miss him sorely as colleague and as friend.” He pledged that the UN would “complete the work he began” in rebuilding the shattered country.
The Brazilian president has declared three days of official mourning to honour Mr de Mello.
