Death of a peacemaker

Trapped under the rubble of the United Nations' Baghdad headquarters, his legs caught beneath an iron bar, Sergio Vieira de Mello called weakly for water.

They were to be the last words of a UN diplomat well known to New Zealand officials and respected for his roles in East Timor and Fiji.

Mr Vieira de Mello and 19 others inside Baghdad's Canal Hotel yesterday were killed when a bomb planted in a truck demolished part of the three-storey building.

It was the worst attack on a UN installation in the organisation's 58-year history. Secretary-General Kofi Annan promised a full security review but pledged the UN would not pull out of Iraq.

"We will not be intimidated."

The blast injured 100 people, among them New Zealanders Major Todd Hart, Alan Johnson and Dave Rendall. Major Hart, who had a broken arm, left Baghdad last night for treatment in Kuwait.



Mr Vieira de Mello, 55, served for more than 30 years as a troubleshooter in the most dangerous hotspots - Bangladesh, Cyprus, Lebanon, Cambodia and Yugoslavia - and some close to New Zealand.

He holds a special place in the hearts of a New Zealand family whose son was murdered on UN peacekeeping duties in East Timor.

As the UN's special representative in East Timor, Mr Vieira de Mello spoke at a memorial service in Dili for Private Leonard Manning, 24.

In October 2000 Mr Vieira de Mello visited Linda and Charlie Manning during a trip to New Zealand. He kept in touch with them and last May they went to East Timor's independence ceremony as his guests.

Last night Mrs Manning described Mr Vieira de Mello as a courageous and compassionate man.

"He took a genuine and special interest in Leonard and us, and our emotional well-being after Leonard was killed.

"He was very upset about Leonard's death and took it very personally. For the huge amount of responsibility he had, to take an interest in ordinary people and one soldier was very impressive."

Mrs Manning said she and her husband were terribly upset when they heard the news.

"We've seen his face all over the news and it's brought back the memories for us. He kept a photo of Leonard on his desk in Timor. It obviously had a profound effect on him.

"It is a real tragedy that such a courageous and caring man has been killed."

After being named to the Iraq post in June, the Brazilian-born diplomat said his priority was to protect the interests of the Iraqi people under the US-led occupation.

"I have been sent here with a mandate to assist the Iraqi people and those responsible for the administration of this land to achieve ... freedom, the possibility of managing their own destiny and determining their own future," he said on arrival in Baghdad.

Mr Annan said Mr Vieira de Mello was an outstanding servant of humanity. "The loss of Sergio Vieira de Mello is a bitter blow for the United Nations and for me personally.

"I can think of no one we could less afford to spare," he said.

It was Mr Vieira de Mello who Mr Annan sent to Fiji in May 2000 after George Speight and his henchmen stormed the Fijian Parliament and took Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry hostage.

He and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, arrived to meet the coup leader and deliver a strong message of disapproval.

But they were treated like heroes, with Speight using the visit as a photo opportunity while minders with Uzi submachine guns stood by.

The hour-long meeting which followed did not lead to a resolution of the crisis, but did allow the visitors a chance to check on the condition of the hostages, who wept to see their surprise callers.

The Herald, watching his meeting with Speight through a window, reported that Mr Vieira de Mello "was the most animated, taking the opportunity to lay down the law in no uncertain terms. He began pointing his finger at Speight with a furious look on his face and hit the table".

Later he said: "I had a message for Mr Speight and if I was gesticulating at him you can imagine why."

Mr Vieira de Mello's death brought an outpouring of grief from the UN and messages saluting a highly respected international servant from around the world.

President George W. Bush vowed to hunt down the bombers and said he would not be intimidated by "terrorists and the remnants of [Saddam Hussein's] brutal regime" into giving up his goal of transforming Iraq into a peaceful democracy.

Prime Minister Helen Clark expressed her "very deep sorrow".

She described Mr Vieira de Mello, whom she had met on a number of occasions, as one of the finest international civil servants.

Brazil declared three days of mourning.

East Timor President Xanana Gusmao said: "Our nation mourns the death of an unforgettable friend. He fought tirelessly for democracy, human rights and sustainable justice for the people of East Timor."

Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard, said: "He was a fine diplomat, a tireless crusader for peace and a thoroughly decent man."

- STAFF REPORTERS, AGENCIES

Herald Feature: Iraq