A visit to Baghdad by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon took a turn for the dramatic today when an explosion went off near the building where he was holding a discussion with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. The blast, apparently caused by a mortar, shook things up in the middle of the televised event Thursday afternoon.


BBC:

As Mr Ban was speaking during the live televised event, a mortar or rocket landed about 100 metres (330ft) from the building, causing him to duck.

Mr Ban appeared frightened but neither he nor Mr Maliki was hurt.

The UN chief had earlier arrived on his first visit to Baghdad since he took office in January this year.

The BBC’s Hugh Sykes in Baghdad says buildings and windows shook when the huge bang reverberated throughout the city shortly after 1530 (1230 GMT).

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