Foreign Minister Jan Petersen deeply shocked at attack on the UN

"I am deeply shocked to hear of the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Petersen. "The Norwegian Government condemns this action in the strongest possible terms."

"This is a terrible setback for the UN’s work in Iraq, where it is involved in reconstruction and humanitarian assistance to the benefit of the Iraqi people. Terrorist attacks against UN personnel are completely unacceptable," he said.

"The reports that UN Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello has been injured are deeply distressing. Mr Vieira de Mello is highly respected by the international community, and his work is of enormous importance to the continued reconstruction of Iraq," said Mr Petersen. "What Iraq needs now is not more violence, but peace and stability."