Brazil Declares National Mourning for the Death of UN Envoy

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 20, 2003

Brazil Declares National Mourning for the Death of UN Envoy

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva Tuesday declared a three-day national mourning for the death of the United Nations special representative to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva Tuesday declared a three-day national mourning for the death of the United Nations special representative to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Vieira de Mello, 55, a Brazilian diplomat, was killed in a suspected suicide bombing at the UN's Baghdad headquarters Tuesday,which killed at least 17 people and injured more than 100.

During a reception held for visiting Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, Lula asked for a minute of silence in remembrance of Vieirade Mello. He said he "vehemently condemned this terrorist act," adding that Vieira de Mello was a victim of "terrorist insanity".

Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, who at the time was meeting with Lula, offered his condolence to the Brazilian people, to the victim's family and to the United Nations.

The attack shows "that it is sometimes more difficult to win the peace than the war," the Chilean president said.

In a communique, Brazil's Foreign Ministry condemned the attackand said that "Brazil rejects any form of terrorism and in particularly those headed against organizations that work for the promotion of peace."

Vieiro de Mello was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan as his special envoy for Iraq in late May to help build peace in the war-battered country. He was also the world body's high commissioner for human rights.

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