The noise of a loud explosion interrupted a news conference being held in Baghdad by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki this morning.
Moments after telling a press conference he might boost the UN presence in Iraq because of improved security, a powerful blast sent shockwaves through the conference venue.
Mr Ban, on his first visit to Baghdad, ducked and appeared shaken by the explosion. It is understood a Katyusha rocket landed 50m from the building.
The blast briefly interrupted the news conference, which was being held in Mr Maliki's residence in the heavily fortified Green Zone.
The UN Secretary General urged the Iraqi government to launch an all-inclusive political process to reconcile the country's warring sects and for its neighbours to 'constructively engage' Iraq.
Mr Maliki and Mr Ban discussed a five-year reconstruction plan for Iraq that was launched last week as a 'tool for unlocking Iraq's own potential'.
The plan outlines targets for Iraq to hit during the next five years, including annual economic goals. It includes a list of legislation the government hopes to pass by the end of 2007.
Middle East visit
Mr Ban is the first Secretary-General to visit the country since his predecessor, Kofi Annan, visited Baghdad in November 2005.
A terrorist attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August 2003 killed 22 people, including UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Mr Ban's visit comes a week after he appealed for international support for a five-year Iraq reconstruction plan.
During his 11-day tour of the Middle East, Mr Ban is also expected to visit Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Saudi Arabia, where he will attend the Arab League summit in Riyadh.
