President France Albert Rene has sent a message of sympathy to the United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan following the bomb blast at the organisation's headquarters in Baghdad on Tuesday night (August 19), which resulted in the death of Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello and other United Nations personnel.

"In this moment of grief and mourning, the Government and people of Seychelles join me in expressing our heartfelt sympathy and deepest condolences to you, to the United Nations, as well as to the families of Mr Vieira de Mello and the other victims," President Rene says in his message.

"The Republic of Seychelles strongly condemns this terrible criminal act and expresses the hope that peace, stability and prosperity in Iraq will be speedily established. We wish to assure you, excellency, of our solidarity in this tragic moment," adds the message.

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