Annan orders probe into blast, UN staff want out

[Nottingham]

http://straitstimes.com/latest/story/0,4390,211148,00.html?


Annan orders probe into blast, UN staff want out
UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asked former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari to chair an independent investigation into the security at UN headquarters in Baghdad before the Aug 19 bombing that killed 22 people and injured over 160, but the UN Staff Union has said that UN operations in Iraq should be suspended and all UN staff withdrawn from the country until the security situation improves.

UN spokesman Fred Eckhard announced the appointment of Mr Ahtisaari on Monday, just hours after yet another suicide car bomber killed an Iraqi policeman and injured 19 other people outside the UN headquarters in Iraqi capital.



The UN Staff Union, which represents 5,000 staff members worldwide, said the latest car bombing 'has highlighted yet again the unacceptable risks undertaken daily by the United Nations staff continuing to work in Iraq'. It reiterated its call for the suspension of UN operations in Iraq and the withdrawal of all UN staff until the security situation improves.

At the time of the first bombing, there were about 300 international staff in Baghdad and another 300 elsewhere in Iraq. But the number was ordered cut to a maximum of 50 essential international staff.
The union, which had called for 'a full and independent investigation to determine why adequate security was not in place' at UN headquarters in Baghdad, welcomed Mr Ahtisaari's appointment.

more.....

UN can't protect its own people! :bounce:

[Dover]

1. Wouldn't be a bit surprised if the Bush cabal was behind these

blasts. The Bush admin's desire to be rid of the UN (unless of course they are under US controls)has been no secret.

[Nottingham]

2. It is a bit Suspicious isn't it!

:bounce:

[KoKo]

3. If the UN leaves......it will not look good.....another nail in Chimps

coffin..

I feel trouble brewing "Big Time."