VARIOUS: BRITAIN AND GERMANY CONDEMNS THE BOMBING OF THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN BAGHDAD
Record ID:
646087
VARIOUS: BRITAIN AND GERMANY CONDEMNS THE BOMBING OF THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN BAGHDAD
- Title: VARIOUS: BRITAIN AND GERMANY CONDEMNS THE BOMBING OF THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN BAGHDAD
- Date: 19th August 2003
- Summary: (U6) BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 19, 2003) (REUTERS) WIDE OF GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR, WALKING TO MICROPHONES CLOSE OF PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES CLOSE OF REPORTER TAKING NOTES SCU (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (speaking before de Mellos death was confirmed) SAYING: "I have sent a telex to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan expressing the German governments condolences and have reiterated our full support for the U.N. Of course our thoughts are with the victims and their families and also, but not only, with (top U.N. envoy in Iraq, Sergio) de Mello whose fate is still unknown. All we can do is to wish those who have been injured a full recovery. Clearly, this criminal attack was carried out by forces which do not want a peaceful reconstruction of a free Iraq". CLOSE OF SCHROEDER PICTURES ON PHOTOGRAPHERS LAPTOP COMPUTER WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 3rd September 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM AND BERLIN, GERMANY
- City:
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Crime,General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAEH04W8JUOTX0MA8YPC3A4RZ
- Story Text: Britain and Germany react to Baghdad blast.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw reacted to the blast at the UN headquarters in Baghdad before Sergio de Mello's death had been confirmed.
A massive truck bomb devastated the UN buildings in Canal Street in Baghdad, killing the UN's special envoy to Iraq, at least 15 others and injuring scores more.
"I unequivocally condemn this attack on the United Nations building in Iraq.
Our sympathies go out to the relatives and friends of those who have been killed in this terrible attack and to that number of people, which I am afraid may be large, of people who have been injured.
What makes this attack all the more appalling is that the United Nations were there simply for the people of Iraq, to meet their immediate humanitarian needs and to assist the people of Iraq in rebuilding their country from the ravages of Saddam Hussein.
Of course, our hearts go out to everybody who has been affected by this blast, but I have particular concerns about Sergio de Mello (UN special representative) who I met on the 2nd of July, when I was in Baghdad. A very distinguished international public servant, who was working very hard with the coalition provisional authority to help ensure that the United Nations maintain that vital role in rebuilding Iraq which the Security Council had ordered.
The Security Council has already issued a statement condemning this attack. I have been in touch with British staff in the coalition provisional authority who are there to give assistance to the immediate work in respect of the blast and I shall be talking later this evening to Kofi Annan, thank you," Straw said.
In Germany Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was also unaware of de Mello's death and condemned the attack.
"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families and also, but not only, with (top U.N. envoy in Iraq Sergio) de Mello whose fate is still unknown".
"All we can do is to wish those who have been injured a full recovery. Clearly, this criminal attack was carried out by forces which do not want a peaceful reconstruction of a free Iraq", Schroeder said.
The blast ripped through the UN headquarters at 4.30pm (1230GMT).
U.S. President George W. Bush condemned the blast, saying it reflected the desperation of Saddam Hussein's supporters and would not detail U.S. plans for rebuilding Iraq.
The U.N. Security Council said blast would not break will of international community. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was cancelling his holiday in Helsinki to return to New York on Wednesday, a spokesman said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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