Car bomb explodes near UN compound in Baghdad

At least two people were killed and seven others injured this morning when a car bomb exploded while being examined at a checkpoint as it tried to enter the UN compound in Baghdad, Iraqi police reported.

The blast occurred about 100 yards from the UN compound at the Canal Hotel, scene of a devastating car-bombing last month that killed 23 people, including the UN’s top envoy in Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello. The casualties appeared to be the driver and Iraqi police.

The blast, which could be heard over much of the Iraqi capital, took place as the UN General Assembly was meeting in New York. President George W Bush is expected to offer the world body an expanded role in rebuilding Iraq, a condition set by many nations for contributing peacekeepers and money to the reconstruction effort.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has made clear he wants assurances of security for UN personnel in Baghdad along with any expanded role.

The UN curtailed its efforts in Iraq after the August 19 bombing. At the time of the attack, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said there were about 300 international staff in Baghdad and more than 300 elsewhere in Iraq. These numbers are thought to have now been dramatically reduced.

After the bombing, about 20 US military vehicles could be seen swarming around the compound, and the area in north-eastern Baghdad was sealed off by Iraqi police.