Funeral takes place of murdered UN envoy

The family, friends and colleagues of Sergio Vieira de Mello gathered today to bury the murdered UN Iraq envoy in the Swiss city…

The family, friends and colleagues of Sergio Vieira de Mello gathered today to bury the murdered UN Iraq envoy in the Swiss city where he started a humanitarian career that won him wide acclaim.

Sergio Vieira de Mellor was buried in Geneva,Switzerland, today.

Following a Roman Catholic church ceremony, Vieira de Mello was laid to rest in a private ceremony by his widow Annie and two sons in Geneva's Cemeteryof Kings.

Vieira de Mello, 55, was killed in the suicide bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

His death has hit the United Nations hard. Vieira de Mello's diplomatic skills were so admired that he had been talked about as a future secretary-general.

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Vieira de Mello was close to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, often describing the UN chief as "my brother."

During a wake last weekend in Vieira de Mello'snative Brazil, Annan said he would "shine forever among our brightest stars."

AP