A powerful explosion, the third today, thundered in the center of Baghdad. According to eyewitnesses, the explosion occurred near the Canal Hotel, where the UN headquarters is located. Details are being confirmed.

In connection with this explosion, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan decided to reduce the organization's personnel in Iraq. This was announced by UN official Fred Eckhardt. According to F. Eckhardt, mission employees who leave Iraq will be sent to Jordan. At the same time, F. Eckhardt refused to specify how much the mission in Iraq would be reduced and how many UN employees would remain in the country.

Let us remind you that the last explosion occurred today in the center of the Iraqi capital at the al-Aike Hotel, where reporters from the American television company NBC lived.

As a result, a hotel security guard died. The TV company's sound engineer and another person were injured. The hotel building suffered minor damage. An Iraqi police spokesman said the explosive device was planted in the hotel's generator room.

Regarding the explosions of the UN mission in Iraq, it is worth noting that the last terrorist attack on the organization’s headquarters occurred on September 22. A massive explosion near the UN headquarters killed two people and injured more than 20. According to Arab sources, the explosive device was planted in a car parked nearby.

But the most powerful explosion of the UN office in Iraq occurred on August 19, 2003. Then 23 people were killed, 84 were injured and 2 were missing. A previously unknown organization, the Armed Vanguard of Mohamed's Second Army, claimed responsibility for the attack. It should be noted that among those killed in the explosion on August 19 was the UN representative in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Baghdad: Explosion near UN headquarters