Brasília, August 19, 2003 (BBC Brasil) - The UN announced today the death of the Brazilian citizen, Sérgio Vieira de Mello, special representative of the UN Secretary-General in Iraq.

Mello was killed in an explosion which killed at least another 15 individuals and wounded at least 40 at the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

After the explosion, rescue teams tried to reach the UN representative, who was trapped in the rubble of the building.

A UN spokesman in Baghdad, Salim Lone, said that the explosion occurred right under Mello's office.

An American military spokesman said that the explosion was caused by a truck or car bomb and was probably a suicide attack. (DAS)