Mystery as Brazilian head of UN mission in Haiti is found dead

Hiati: The UN peacekeeping mission to Haiti was shaken yesterday by the apparent suicide of the Brazilian head of the UN force…

Hiati: The UN peacekeeping mission to Haiti was shaken yesterday by the apparent suicide of the Brazilian head of the UN force there, Lieut Gen Urano Teixeira da Matta Bacellar.

Gen Bacellar (58) was found beside the balcony of his suite at the Montana hotel with what was apparently a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He is the 10th UN fatality since the mission went to Haiti in May 2004.

A spokesman for the UN mission in Haiti said the "unexpected death leaves us all bereft".

Gen Bacellar's widow, Maria Ignez, called for a complete investigation. There was no immediate theory as to why the general might have taken his own life. - (Guardian service)

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter