posted August 19, 2003 02:05 PM              

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A large truck bomb ripped through the U.N. headquarters in Iraq on Tuesday killing at least 17 people and wounding dozens, U.N. officials said.

At least three people, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N. special representative to Iraq, remain trapped in the rubble of the Canal Hotel, a U.N. spokesman said.

The bombing continues a recent pattern of attacks on non-military targets in Iraq. Over the weekend, oil, water and electricity lines were attacked by what coalition spokesman called saboteurs. And earlier this month, a car bomb exploded outside the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, leaving 10 people dead.

CNN Correspondent Jane Arraf said security at the hotel had been beefed up considerably but it was still, as a U.N. facility, a softer target than a U.S. military installation.

The building was evacuated as flames and smoke rose from the wreckage and windows reportedly were shattered as far as a kilometer away.

"The roof collapsed, lights went out and dust was everywhere," said David Marshall, a lawyer in the U.N. building when the bomb exploded. "It was difficult getting out to the front of the building, that was covered in rubble."

"There were a number of bodies in the rubble. Those bodies were carried out."

Coalition troops were attempting to set up a field hospital as close to the blast site as possible to treat anyone pulled from the rubble, and medical helicopters were on standby to ferry them to hospitals for further treatment.

Iraqi security personnel joined the search through the rubble for survivors, U.S. civilian administrator L. Paul Bremer said.

President Bush said: "The terrorists have again shown their contempt for the innocent, shown their fear of progress and hatred for peace. They are the enemies of the people of Iraq, the enemies of every nation that seeks to help the Iraqi people.

"By their tactics and targets these murderers reveal themselves once more as enemies of the civilized world."

The bomb exploded below Vieira de Mello's office window, a U.N. spokesman said.

"He has been injured, but we're not certain how badly. He appears to be conscious; they are giving him water," U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said in New York. "Dozens appear to be injured."

The United Nations has long performed many roles in the Iraq along with weapons inspection -- such as humanitarian, development and refugee programs. There are 300 U.N. personnel in Iraq and 646 throughout the country, but it is not clear how many people were in the Canal Hotel.

In New York, the Security Council issued a statement saying: "This horrible attack, aimed at undermining the vital role of the U.N. in Iraq, will not affect our determination. We will stay united against such attacks and to help the Iraqi people restore peace and stability to their country."

In Baghdad, Bremer, the U.S. civilian administrator, said: "Early reports suggest a terrorist attack. Terrorists are enemies of Iraq as of all civilized countries. We are doing everything we can to help."

Vieira de Mello, Brazilian, 55, became the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) in September 2002. (Profile)

He has spent more than 30 years with that organization and held various posts during his tenure. Previous positions include serving as the United Nations' transitional administrator in East Timor and special representative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Kosovo.

After U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Vieira de Mello as his special representative in Iraq, he vowed to "help the people of Iraq out of what has been a terrible period in their long and noble history."

Jose Diaz, at UNHCHR headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, told CNN: "We are deeply shocked and outraged by the dispicable act. Our people are in Iraq solely to help people who had been suffering from years of repression and now recovering from war.

"It will make out work in Iraq a lot harder, but we will persevere....The people of Iraq deserve that, and we will not be deterred by terroristic acts."

An audiotape, aired Monday on an Arabic-language TV network and purportedly from an al Qaeda spokesman in Afghanistan, called on Iraqis to continue their fight against U.S. forces and promised to send more al Qaeda members to help them. (Full story)

The message reiterates other broadcast messages from a person identifying himself as Saddam Hussein.

A witness said the Baghdad blast appeared to be a suicide attack. He said he saw a truck smash through a wire fence and into the corner of the building.

SUMMER HEATS UP
Tuesday's bombing continues stepped-up attacks on facilities in Iraq.
August 7 -- Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad bombed, killing 10
August 16 -- Oil pipeline sabotaged in northern Iraq
August 17 -- Water pipes sabotaged in Baghdad
August 19 -- U.N. headquarters in Baghdad hit by truck bomb, causing multiple casualities

posted August 19, 2003 04:55 PM              

There's a station run by Iraqi college students that's independent, but it's only on an hour or two a day, and lacks respect because its not all that professional yet...