Iraq: UN envoy deplores attack on international migration body

United Nations envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello has condemned a rocket propelled grenade attack on a compound used by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Mosul, northern Iraq, on Saturday.

In a statement issued in Baghdad, Mr. Vieira de Mello, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative, deplored the attack "as he would any attack on international and non-governmental organizations."

A local guard was wounded and two IOM vehicles along with the wall of the compound were damaged.

Established in 1951 as an intergovernmental organization to resettle European displaced persons, refugees and migrants, IOM has now grown to encompass a variety of migration management activities throughout the world. It has been active in Iraq since before the current hostilities.