DATE=4/26/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248635
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ DEATH (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS (MONDAY) A U-N HUMANITARIAN
WORKER HAS BEEN SHOT AND KILLED IN IRAQ. FEW DETAILS ARE KNOWN
ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE KILLING. V-O-A'S U-N
CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT: U-N SPOKESMAN MANOEL ALMEIDA E SILVA SAYS THE KILLING TOOK
PLACE IN NORTHERN IRAQ, NEAR THE AIRPORT IN ERBIL, ABOUT 350
KILOMETERS NORTH OF BAGHDAD.
/// ALMEIDA E SILVA ///
A NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL WORKING FOR THE U-N HUMANITARIAN
PROGRAM IN NORTHERN IRAQ WAS SHOT AND KILLED OVER THE
WEEKEND. THE VICTIM WAS A PROJECT MANAGER WORKING FOR A
COMPANY CONTRACTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS, GREENFIELD
CONSULTANTS, WHICH REPORTEDLY WAS HIRED FOR LANDMINE
CLEARANCE.
/// END ACT ///
THE GUNMAN REPORTEDLY APPROACHED THE U-N EMPLOYEE, NICHOLAS
SPEIGHT, AND ASKED FOR A BOTTLE OF WATER. MR. SPEIGHT GAVE HIM A
BOTTLE OF WATER. THE GUNMAN RETURNED SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WITH
THE EMPTY BOTTLE AND SHOT MR. SPEIGHT.
THE 32 YEAR OLD NEW ZEALANDER WAS WITH A DUTCH U-N EMPLOYEE AT
THE TIME. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE GUNMAN FIRED THREE SHOTS AT HER
ALSO, BUT MISSED. SHE PRETENDED SHE WAS DEAD UNTIL THE GUNMAN
LEFT.
IT IS THE FIRST KNOWN SHOOTING OF A U-N STAFF MEMBER IN IRAQ THIS
YEAR.
IN RESPONSE TO THE KILLING, THE UNITED NATIONS HAS PLACED THE
AREA WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED OFF-LIMITS TO U-N STAFF, AND
IMPOSED A SEVEN-P-M CURFEW ON U-N WORKERS IN NORTHERN IRAQ.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, BAGHDAD URGED THE UNITED NATIONS TO PULL ALL
BRITISH AND U-S STAFF OUT OF THE COUNTRY, SAYING IT COULD NO
LONGER ENSURE THEIR SAFETY FOLLOWING BRITISH AND U-S AIRSTRIKES
AGAINST IRAQ. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/JO
26-Apr-99 5:09 PM EDT (2109 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
