The Canal Hotel after the bombing.

The Canal Hotel Bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, in the afternoon of August 19, 2003, killed at least 22 people and wounded over 100. The blast targeted the United Nations (UN), which had used the hotel as its headquarters in Iraq since 1991. Image File history File links This photo comes from here, and is in the public domain. ... Image File history File links This photo comes from here, and is in the public domain. ... Location of Baghdad within Iraq Baghdad (Arabic: ‎ translit: , Kurdish: Bexda, from Persian Baagh-daad or Bag-Da-Du meaning “Garden of God” [1]) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The bombing

The explosion occurred while Benon Sevan, director of the "Oil for food program," was holding a press conference. Sevan was among the wounded. The explosion damaged a spinal cord treatment center at the hospital nearby and the shockwave was felt a mile away. Benon V. Sevan (born December 18, 1937 Nicosia, Cyprus) was the head of the United Nations Oil for Food program established in 1996, charged with preventing Iraqs government from using the proceeds from oil exports for anything but food, medicine and other items to benefit the civilian population. ... The Oil-for-Food Programme was established by the United Nations in 1996 to allow Iraq to sell oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine and the like. ... Cross-section through cervical spinal cord. ... A physician visiting the sick in a hospital. ... For the vector animation platform, see Macromedia Shockwave. ...

The blast was most likely caused by a suicide bomber driving a truck full of explosives. The vehicle has been identified as a large 2002 flatbed Kamaz (manufactured in Eastern Europe; part of the former Iraqi establishment's fleet). Investigators in Iraq suspect the bomb was made from old munitions, including a single 500-pound bomb. The materials may have been from Iraq's prewar arsenal. Investigators comment that such items would not require any "great degree of sophistication" to assemble. A suicide bombing is an attack using a bomb in which the individual(s) carrying the explosive materials composing the bomb intend(s) and expect(s) to die upon detonation (see suicide). ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ... Kamaz (Камский автомобильный завод - Камаз / Kamskiy avtomobilny zavod - Kama Automobile Zavod - Kamaz) is a Russian truck manufacturer located in Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan. ... Current division of Europe into five (or more) regions: one definition of Eastern Europe is marked in orange Eastern Europe as a region has several alternative definitions, whereby it can denote: the region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Central Europe and Russia. ...

There is speculation that Sérgio Vieira de Mello, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, may have been specifically targeted in the blast due to the proximity of the explosion to his office. The UN building may have been chosen due to its limited security. Sérgio Vieira de Mello Sérgio Vieira de Mello (March 15, 1948 – August 19, 2003) was a Brazilian United Nations (UN) diplomat who worked for the UN for over 34 years, earning respect and praise around the world for his efforts in the humanitarian and political programs of the... The purpose of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights involves the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide through direct contact with individual governments and the provision of technical assistance where appropriate. ...

The bombing was followed on September 22, 2003, by another car bomb outside the Canal Hotel. The blast killed the bomber and an Iraqi policeman and wounded 19 others, including UN workers. The second attack led to the withdrawal of some 600 UN international staff from Baghdad, along with employees of other aid agencies. In August 2004, 80 or so international staffers returned along with about 180 troops to protect them.^{[citation needed]} September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: August 2004 in sports Deaths in August 2004 • 30 Fred Whipple • 26 Laura Branigan • 24 Elisabeth Kübler-Ross • 18 Elmer Bernstein • 15 Amarsinh Chaudhary • 14 CzesÅ‚aw MiÅ‚osz • 13 Julia Child • 8 Robert...

List of victims

• Sérgio Vieira de Mello, 55 (Brazil): Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Iraq
• Saad Hermiz Abona, 45 (Iraq): working for UN contracting firm
• Renam Al-Farra, 29 (Jordan): an employee of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
• Raid Shaker Mustafa Al-Mahdawi, 32 (Iraq): United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC)
• Emaad Ahmed Salman Al-Jobary, 45 (Iraq): Electrician for UNMOVIC
• Omar Kahtan Mohamed Al-Orfali, 34(Iraq): Driver
• Leen Assad Al-Qadi, 32 (Iraq): UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Iraq (UNOHCI)
• Ranillo Buenaventura, 47 (Philippines): UNOHCI
• Gillian Clark, 47 (Canada): Christian Children's Fund
• Arthur Helton, 54 (United States): director of peace and conflict studies at the US Council on Foreign Relations.
• Richard Hooper, 40 (United States): UN Department of Political Affairs.
• Reza Hosseini, 43 (Iran): employed by UN Office for the Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq
• Ihsan Taha Husein, 26 (Iraq): UN driver for office of project services
• Jean-Sélim Kanaan, 33 (Egypt): Member of Vieira de Mello's staff.
• Chris Klein-Beekman, 32 (Canada): UN Children's Fund's program coordinator.
• Manuel Martín-Oar, 56 (Spain): naval captain, assistant to the Spanish special ambassador to Iraq
• Khidir Saleem Sahir, (Iraq): Civilian
• Alya Souza, 54 (Iraq): worked for the World Bank
• Martha Teas, 47 (United States): manager of UN humanitarian coordination office
• Basim Mahmoud Utaiwi, 40 (Iraq): Security guard for UNOHCI
• Fiona Watson, 35 (Britain): Member of Vieira de Mello's staff
• Nadia Younes, 57 (Egypt): Chief of Staff for Vieira de Mello

Marilyn Manuel, Philippines, a member of Vieira de Mello's staff originally listed as dead, stunned her family when she called home, not knowing they had been told she was dead.^[1] Sérgio Vieira de Mello Sérgio Vieira de Mello (March 15, 1948 – August 19, 2003) was a Brazilian United Nations (UN) diplomat who worked for the UN for over 34 years, earning respect and praise around the world for his efforts in the humanitarian and political programs of the... The United Nations Secretary-General is the head of the Secretariat, one of the principal divisions of the United Nations. ... Gillian (Jill) Clark (1956? - August 19, 2003) was a Canadian aid worker who was killed in the Canal Hotel bombing in Iraq. ... The logo of Christian Childrens Fund Christian Childrens Fund is a Christian charity that helps children who live in poverty. ... Arthur Helton (January 24, 1949 - August 19, 2003) died in the Canal Hotel Bombing. ... The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a think tank which describes itself as dedicated to increasing Americas understanding of the world and contributing ideas to U.S. foreign policy. ... Reza Hosseini (8 May 1960 – 19 August 2003) was a relief worker who was killed in the Canal Hotel bombing in Iraq. ... ISBN 2221095944 (French) Jean-Sélim Kanaan (1970 - August 19, 2003) was an United Nations (UN) diplomat, Egyptian and French national, who was killed in the Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, along with Sérgio Vieira de Mello and other members of his staff. ... Chris Klein-Beekman (September 1971 _ August 19, 2003) was a Canadian aid worker who was killed in the Iraq. ... UNICEF logo The United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. ... Spanish Naval Captain Manuel Martín-Oar (1947 - 2003) died from injuries sustained in the truck bomb attack on the United Nations Baghdad headquarters on Tuesday August 19, 2003, which killed 24 people. ... Logo of the World Bank The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means... Fiona Watson (1968? - August 19, 2003) was a Scottish aid worker who was killed in the Canal Hotel bombing in Iraq. ... Nadia Younes (June 13, 1946 - August 19, 2003) was an Egyptian national who spent her entire career in the United Nations and the World Health Organization, rising to high-level posts in a variety of areas. ...

Suspects

As of 2005, the prime suspects in this bombing are followers of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who has purportedly claimed responsibility for this attack. In January 2005, a top bombmaker for Zarqawi's group, Abu Omar al-Kurdi, was captured by the coalition and claimed his associates made the bomb used in this attack. On December 16, 2005, Iraqi authorities issued an arrest warrant for Mullah Halgurd al-Khabir, a commander of Ansar al-Sunna, in connection with the attack.^{[citation needed]} 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in an undated AP photograph. ... 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Deaths in January • 29 Ephraim Kishon • 25 Philip Johnson • 23 Johnny Carson • 22 Parveen Babi • 20 Jan Nowak-Jeziorański • 17 Virginia Mayo • 17 Zhao Ziyang • 15 Ruth Warrick • 14 Rudolph Moshammer Recent deaths Ongoing events • Tsunami relief... Abu Omar al-Kurdi, real name Sami Muhammad Ali Said al-Jaaf, was a top bombmaker for Abu Musab al-Zarqawis organization in Iraq, Jamaat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... An arrest warrant is a warrant issued by a public officer which authorizes the arrest and detention of an individual. ... Jaish Ansar al-Sunna or Army of the Protectors of the Sunna (faith), is an Islamist militant group in Iraq fighting US-led occupation and US-backed interim government of Iyad Allawi. ...

Other suspects include:

• Iraqi Baathists
• Militant Sunni branch of Islam followers
• Militant Shiite branch of Islam followers
• Organized crime
• Iraqis angered by Coalition occupiers
• Iraqis with tribal loyalties
• Foreign agents (such as al-Qaida)
• Members of Ansar al-Islam group

An otherwise unknown group called the Armed Vanguards of the Second Mohammed Army claimed they were responsible for the attack. Investigators are focusing on the possibility that former Iraqi intelligence agents (working as security guards) may have assisted the attack.^{[citation needed]} Baath Party flag The Ba‘ath Parties (also spelled Baath or Ba‘th; Arabic: اﻟﺒﻌﺚ) comprise political parties representing the political face of the Ba‘ath movement. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Shi‘as (the adjective in Arabic is شيعى shi‘i; English has traditionally used Shiite) which mean follower in Arabic make up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%-35% of all Muslim. ... Organized crime is crime carried out systematically by formal criminal organizations. ... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ... Ansar al-Islam (Arabic: انصار الاسلام, Supporters or Partisans of Islam) is a Kurdish Sunni Islamist group, promoting a radical interpretation of Islam and holy war. ...

Responses

The suicide bombing of the United Nations in Baghdad drew overwhelming condemnation.

Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General, commented that the bombing would not stop the organization's efforts to rebuild Iraq, and said: "Nothing can excuse this act of unprovoked and murderous violence against men and women who went to Iraq for one purpose only: to help the Iraqi people recover their independence and sovereignty, and to rebuild their country as fast as possible, under leaders of their own choosing." Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanaian diplomat and the seventh and current Secretary-General of the United Nations. ...

See also

• Attacks on humanitarian workers

Humanitarian aid workers belonging to UN organisations, PVOs / NGOs or the Red Cross / Red Crescent have traditionally enjoyed both international legal protection, and de facto immunity from attack by belligerent parties. ...

References

1. ↑  Philipinenews.com Marilyn Manuel comes home

External links

• who.int Senior WHO official, Dr David Nabarro, describes his experience inside the Canal Hotel
• UN report on the bombing, Oct. 22, 2003 PDF
• globalsecurity.org March 3, 2004 Report of the Security in Iraq Accountability Panel (SIAP) PDF
• World Socialist Web Site The bombing as a product of the US occupation of Iraq?
• UN portal for the anniversary
  • UNECE.org Kofi Annan's statement on the one-year anniversary PDF