Shaken U.N. Will Reduce International Staff in Iraq
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UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations will drastically reduce its remaining international staff in Iraq because of security concerns amid continuing violence, U.N. officials said Friday.
There are about 400 international staff members in the country, including about 110 in Baghdad. U.N. officials want to cut the total by nearly 90% to a ceiling of 40 to 50 essential international staffers, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan ordered a reassessment of security after the Aug. 19 bombing at the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad that killed 22 people, including top U.N. envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.
After the attack, the United Nations evacuated injured staff and ordered some others to move to Amman, Jordan.
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