UN Returns to Iraq One Year Later

The UN had left Iraq almost a year ago, on August 19, after its Baghdad headquarters were hit by a suicide bomber. 22 people, including UN Iraq representative Sergio Vieira de Mello, were killed in the bombing. After the attack the UN announced that it would withdraw from Iraq and not return until security could be guaranteed.

UN Representative Kazi met yesterday with Interim Iraqi President Gazi Al Yaver and Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allavi to discuss Iraq’s security and the Iraqi National Conference. A press conference was due to be held after the meeting, but it was canceled because of disturbances near the ‘Green Zone’.

Yesterday the UN Security Council decided to extend the duration of the Aid Mission in Iraq for one year.