Iraqi artists honour UN bombing victims at end of Muslim mourning period

To mark the official end of the mourning period in the Muslim tradition, exactly 40 days after the 19 August terrorist bombing on the UN compound in Baghdad, a group of young Iraqi artists opened an art show at the capital's exhibition centre today.

The 30 works of art, mostly paintings as well as some sculptures, represent the artists' vision of the blast and the aftermath of the tragedy, which killed 22 people, including top UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.

The young men and women said they wanted to express their sympathy, solidarity and compassion to the all of the victims of the blast.

Speaking at the opening, which was attend by more than 100 people, Kevin Kennedy, the acting head of the UN's operations in Iraq said that art had always been very important, even vital, for Mr. Vieira de Mello, who had made a special effort to reach out to artists during his time in Iraq. For him art was "a unique manifestation of expressing freedom and personal choice," Mr. Kennedy added.