Fed: Australian officer working for Vierira de Mello OK
CANBERRA, Aug 20 AAP - A senior Australian officer who worked for the United Nations'top envoy to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, has escaped serious injury in a massive bombattack in Baghdad.
Australian Defence Force chief Peter Cosgrove said the Australian was helping rescuepeople from the bomb site.
At least 15 people were killed, including Mr Vieira de Mello, when the explosion rippedthrough the UN headquarters.
"The only redeeming bit of news I've found in the whole episode is to tell you thatthe senior Australian officer who worked directly for Vieira de Mello is still OK andhe's assisting in rescuing people from that bomb site," General Cosgrove told ABC Radio.
He described Mr Vieira de Mello, with whom he worked in East Timor, as a man with themost wonderful, charismatic leadership.
"He was such a charming and likeable man that you wanted to do things simply becausehe was Sergio," General Cosgrove said.
"I know that his home country will be in mourning, I know that New York will be inmourning but more to the point the world has lost one of its primary agents for peace.
"It's a very sad day and the murderous people who do this haven't harmed the causeof peace but they've certainly caused all peaceful people to mourn today."
He said those responsible for the attack were people lashing out savagely whereverthey liked and they had attacked all nations.
"They've identified not just a particular country or even a set of countries," GeneralCosgrove said.
"They now attack the very part of the world community which without fear, favour orpartiality was seeking to bring assistance to Iraqis in need.
"They've attacked all nations, not just a set of nations."
AAP sm/cjh
KEYWORD: IRAQ UN BLAST COSGROVE
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