AFP, United Nations, Oct 19, 2010 – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned a bomb attack on a UN convoy in Iraq on Tuesday which narrowly missed his special envoy.
The United States and other western nations also condemned the attack, which brought back eerie memories of the Baghdad bomb blast in August 2003 which killed Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN’s first special representative in Iraq after the 2003 US-led invasion.
Ban said the latest attack targeting UN special representative Ad Melkert would not deter the UN mission in the conflict-stricken country. Melkert was in a convoy escorting him to the airport in the holy Shiite city of Najaf when a roadside bomb exploded. A policeman accompanying the convoy was killed.
’The secretary general strongly condemns today’s attack in Najaf,’ said a UN spokesman in a statement which added that Melkert and his deputy, Jerzy Skuratowicz, and other UN staff were all unhurt.
’The secretary general sends his condolences to the family of the deceased and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.
’The secretary general wishes to express his appreciation to his special representative and the staff of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), who are working under difficult circumstances to implement the mandate of the United Nations in Iraq.
’This attack will not deter the UN from continuing its efforts to assist the Iraqi people on their path to reconciliation and prosperity.’
In Paris, a French foreign ministry spokesman said: ’By attacking UN representatives, the terrorists were targeting the entire international community and its efforts on behalf of Iraq.’
The US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice also condemned the attack ’in the strongest terms.’ She added: ’The United States will continue to support the tireless work that the men and women of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq undertake each day to help the Iraqi people build a sovereign, democratic and stable Iraq.’