BAGHDAD, Aug 20: UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello, killed in the truck bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad on Tuesday, was constantly in touch with US administrator Paul Bremer, but relations were often tense because of the former’s ambition to boost the UN’s political role in Iraq.

“Relations were not good of late because Bremer blamed Vieira de Mello for the United Nations’ avowed desire to be involved in overseeing Iraqi funds managed by the coalition, as well as for an article critical of the coalition by his deputy, Ghassan Salameh,” said a participant at meetings between the two men.

The two men respected each other, but they embodied “a clash between two concepts — (Bremer) is a neo-conservative who has contempt for the UN, while Vieira de Mello was a UN employee who believed that his organization represents international legality,” he said.

The UN envoy won a first round when he succeeded, after his arrival here in early June, in imposing the United Nations as a political player at a time when Bremer sought to limit the organization’s role to the humanitarian domain.

Vieira de Mello once remarked that the UN had been very active in the process leading up to the formation of the Iraqi interim Governing Council last month, specifically in defining its prerogatives.

Salameh, for his part, came up with the name “transitional Governing Council” after “Iraqi leaders rejected the political committee” which Bremer initially sought to put in place to “advise” the US-led occupation administration.

The UN also played a key role in defining the council’s prerogatives by impressing on Bremer that he should give the body wider powers if he wanted it to be broadly representative of Iraqis.

Ties between the UN and the coalition started to improve, but they suffered another setback after a July 21 meeting of the UN Security Council.

“Bremer’s recriminations against the UN multiplied, and he stopped listening to us,” said a senior UN official who requested anonymity.

“He hardened his stance, especially since the situation in the country, for which he is accountable, was far from improving,” he said.

An interview with Salameh published last week in Le Nouvel Observateur only poured fuel on the fire.

In his remarks to the French weekly, Salameh described the situation in Iraq as “alarming,” criticized “de-Baathification,”and warned against any attempt to undermine the Iraqi public sector.

“Bremer was not amused and demanded explanations. He became cold with Vieira de Mello, but the latter treated him courteously, albeit without compromising,” said a participant at meetings between the two men.

“Vieira de Mello’s death deprives Bremer of a partner who was able, through his advice and criticism, to help him avoid pitfalls and, most of all, tell him what the Iraqis really think,” he said.—AFP