Huge explosion rocks UN headquarters
19/08/2003 15:01  - (SA)  

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Baghdad - A huge explosion rocked the headquarters of the United Nations in Baghdad on Tuesday, leaving at least three people dead, a UN spokesperson said.

The explosion at the UN's Canal Hotel headquarters occurred at 16:40(12:40 GMT), Veronique Taveau told AFP, adding: "There are several injured."

News agencies report that the UN special representative in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, is among them.

Rescue workers are reportedly struggling to free him from the wreckage of his office, which was close to the main explosion.

"Benon Sevan, director of the UN oil-for-food programme in Iraq, who was giving a news conference, was injured," Taveau said, without giving details.

The US Army says the explosion was caused by a car bomb.

- AFP

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