The United Nations headquarters in Baghdad was hit by a huge blast on Tuesday, leaving 17 killed and more than 100 injured, many seriously. Soon after the UN envoy to Iraq, Sergio Vieirade Mello, was confirmed dead at his office, the flag was lowered to half-mast at the United Nations headquarters in New York and Annan mourned deeply the loss of UN envoy for Iraq.

The bloody blast aroused world-wide condemnations. From the UN, the U.S., China, Germany, France, the EU, the NATO, to the Arab League, they all strongly condemned the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad on Tuesday.

China is shocked at the devastating bomb attack on the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Iraq, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman.

US President George W. Bush vowed that the United States would continue its fight against terror through every hardship despite the bombing of United Nations headquarters in Iraq.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov telephoned UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan following the bombing, saying Russia is ready to help improve protection for UN personnel in Iraq.

The deadly blast at the UN headquarters building in Baghdad cannot break the will of the international community, the United Nations Security Council president said.

The explosion at the UN's Canal Hotel headquarters occurred at 4:40 pm (1240 GMT), and a truck bomb caused the explosion.

They added that a hospital nearby the hotel was also hit by the blast, where many patients were wounded because of the blast. 

 Military ambulances and security forces were at the scene of the blast and seal off the roads to the hotel. At least four Black Helicopters could be seen on the grounds at the hotel and more were flying in, apparently to ferry away the victims. 

(China.org.cn August 20, 2003)