Geneva: The United Nations will build a "larger, better fortified" compound for its staff in Baghdad, head Ban Ki-moon said today during a remembrance ceremony for UN employees who died there in a 2003 attack.

"The only way I can honour this legacy is to ensure that the UN continues to help the Iraqi people while protecting its staff, there and everywhere," the UN Secretary-General said.

An August truck bomb attack on the world body's Baghdad headquarters five years ago killed 22 people, including the UN's top envoy to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

"With financial support from member states and the (Iraqi) government, we plan to construct a larger, better fortified compound that can safely house additional UN staff," Ban said.

Most of the UN staff is based in Baghdad, he said, although it is increasingly moving out to the provinces.

Source : PTI