A report on the August bombing of United Nations offices in Iraq says some lives might have been saved if a "dysfunctional" and "sloppy" UN security system had heeded advance warnings and followed its own rules.
The inquiry findings by an independent panel, released today, blame the security apparatus in New York and in the field as well as top management for lapses before the August 19th attack. The bombing of the UN offices in Baghdad killed 22 people and injured 150.
It recommends revamping the security systems for all UN missions.
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"The main conclusion of the panel is that the current security management system is dysfunctional," said the 40-page report by former Finnish President Mr Martti Ahtisaari, appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to lead the investigation.
"The observance and implementation of security regulations and procedures were sloppy and non-compliance with security rules commonplace," the report said.
The report also confirmed allegations made by US officials - that the United Nations in Baghdad had refused protection because it was uncomfortable with US tanks and other security measures, wanting to distance itself from the occupation.
Consequently, UN officials asked the US military to withdraw heavy equipment from the compound in the Canal Hotel, dismantle an observation post on the roof and remove obstacles and concertina wire from the access road where an orange flatbed truck approached and exploded, the report said.
"Adequate security arrangements may not have been able to prevent the attack against the Canal Hotel perimeter, but would certainly have minimised the vulnerability of the staff and premises and reduced the number of casualties caused by the attack." it added.
Like the UN system itself, Mr Ahtisaari said security was scattered among semi-independent UN relief agencies and political staff. There was little accountability, no clear chain of command, a stifling bureaucracy, too little money, and too few professional staff to evaluate intelligence.
The deficiencies cited in the report run the gamut of security breaches - from the UN's uncertainty about the number of foreign staff in Baghdad, to delaying until this day installing shatter-proof glass, to not reacting to reports shortly before August 19th that the UN offices were a target.
The report takes some comfort in the fact Mr Annan convinced the United States, in a resolution adopted last week, that he could determine the pace of return of UN staff to Iraq, depending on security.