DATE=4/26/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248635 
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ DEATH (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS (MONDAY) A U-N HUMANITARIAN 
WORKER HAS BEEN SHOT AND KILLED IN IRAQ.  FEW DETAILS ARE KNOWN 
ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE KILLING.  V-O-A'S U-N 
CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT:  U-N SPOKESMAN MANOEL ALMEIDA E SILVA SAYS THE KILLING TOOK
PLACE IN NORTHERN IRAQ, NEAR THE AIRPORT IN ERBIL, ABOUT 350 
KILOMETERS NORTH OF BAGHDAD.

                     /// ALMEIDA E SILVA ///

         A NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL WORKING FOR THE U-N HUMANITARIAN 
         PROGRAM IN NORTHERN IRAQ WAS SHOT AND KILLED OVER THE 
         WEEKEND.  THE VICTIM WAS A PROJECT MANAGER WORKING FOR A
         COMPANY CONTRACTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS, GREENFIELD 
         CONSULTANTS, WHICH REPORTEDLY WAS HIRED FOR LANDMINE 
         CLEARANCE.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE GUNMAN REPORTEDLY APPROACHED THE U-N EMPLOYEE, NICHOLAS 
SPEIGHT, AND ASKED FOR A BOTTLE OF WATER.  MR. SPEIGHT GAVE HIM A
BOTTLE OF WATER.  THE GUNMAN RETURNED SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WITH 
THE EMPTY BOTTLE AND SHOT MR. SPEIGHT.

THE 32 YEAR OLD NEW ZEALANDER WAS WITH A DUTCH U-N EMPLOYEE AT 
THE TIME.  U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE GUNMAN FIRED THREE SHOTS AT HER 
ALSO, BUT MISSED.  SHE PRETENDED SHE WAS DEAD UNTIL THE GUNMAN 
LEFT.

IT IS THE FIRST KNOWN SHOOTING OF A U-N STAFF MEMBER IN IRAQ THIS
YEAR.

IN RESPONSE TO THE KILLING, THE UNITED NATIONS HAS PLACED THE 
AREA WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED OFF-LIMITS TO U-N STAFF, AND 
IMPOSED A SEVEN-P-M CURFEW ON U-N WORKERS IN NORTHERN IRAQ.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, BAGHDAD URGED THE UNITED NATIONS TO PULL ALL 
BRITISH AND U-S STAFF OUT OF THE COUNTRY, SAYING IT COULD NO 
LONGER ENSURE THEIR SAFETY FOLLOWING BRITISH AND U-S AIRSTRIKES 
AGAINST IRAQ.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/JO

26-Apr-99 5:09 PM EDT (2109 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.