Baghdad Bombing. "A Reprehensible Act against The International Committee of the Red Cross". by Nada Doumani. ICRC BBC World News 10:29pm 27th Oct, 2003   27 October, 2003    (Extract: " Bombs rock central Baghdad". BBC World News).    At least 34 people have been killed and 224 people injured in a series of apparently co-ordinated explosions in central Baghdad. The first bomb appeared to have been packed into an ambulance, which exploded as it entered the gates of the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross.    At least three other bombs exploded in the city within an hour, with police stations being the targets.    One report from the Associated Press said as many as 34 people may have been killed.The blasts came on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Grey smoke billowed over the scene of the attack on the ICRC, which happened at about 0830. Several cars were ablaze. Ambulances rushed to the scene of the ICRC blast and helicopters circled overhead as US troops moved to seal off the area. Twelve people died in the attack, and 22 people were injured the ICRC said - two Iraqi security guards and eight passers-by. The driver of the vehicle which exploded is also thought to have died.    'Hideous act'    "We are deeply shocked... because it is an attack against the ICRC... and that means, of course, a deliberate attack against our protective emblem and against our work," said chief spokeswoman Antonella Notari at the organisation's Geneva headquarters.    A spokeswoman in Baghdad said she could not understand why the ICRC had been targeted after two decades of humanitarian work in Iraq.    "We believe we have to stay here because we have an important job to do for the Iraqis," said spokeswoman Nada Doumani.    "We only have a few foreigners here as we rely on our Iraqi brethren. This is a hideous act, a reprehensible act against the ICRC.    "Without a doubt what happened here today will affect any decision on what our future role here will be."    Many aid agencies scaled back their work in Iraq following August's bomb attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad that killed 23 people including the top UN envoy to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.    27 October – United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called the bombing of the Red Cross office in Baghdad a "crime against humanity," and condemned all of today's attacks throughout the Iraqi capital.    Mr. Annan "is deeply dismayed at the latest series of terrorist attacks which took place in Baghdad today," and condemns them "in the strongest possible terms," said a statement by a UN spokesperson, Marie Okabe.    In reference specifically to the Red Cross bombing, Ms. Okabe said, "The Secretary-General deplores the targeting of the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Baghdad. The ICRC is a universally respected humanitarian organization. Its neutrality and impartiality are the mainstays of its operations. Today's attack on it is a crime against humanity."    Ms. Okabe said Mr. Annan had spoken with ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger to express his condolences to the families of killed and injured.    Ms. Okabe added that the Secretary-General believes "all terrorist acts, from whatever quarter and whatever their justification, are morally repugnant and indefensible," and called upon the authorities in Iraq to bring those responsible to justice. Visit the related web page
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