The top UN official in Iraq, Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello, has died in the Baghdad blast,a UN spokesman has announced.
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Sergio Vieira de Mello
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US officials have said that at least 20 UN workers and Iraqis have been killed, including Mr Vieira de Mello, and 100 have been wounded.
Mr Vieira de Mello, a 55-year-old veteran Brazilian diplomat, was in his office when the explosion ripped through the building at about 4.30 p.m. local time. He was trapped in the rubble.
His death was announced by UN spokesman Mr Fred Eckhard in New York.
All the national flags that ring the UN headquarters' entrance in New York were removed from their poles.
The blue and white UN flag was lowered to halfmast.
UN staff gathered in corridors and around television sets as they mourned the loss of the man Mr Eckhard called "a rising star".