British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who was in Brussels for an EU foreign ministers' meeting, told reporters that the occupying powers in Iraq, including his country, will not be deterred by the attacks. "I would like to express my shock and outrage at this specious terrorist incident in Baghdad," he said, "and the fact that the terrorists have yet again targeted not U.S. or UK troops, but an international organization there solely for humanitarian relief shows the depth of depravity to which they stoop, and the fact they represent no high ideal, but only the very worst of the remnants of the Saddam regime."

Mr. Straw said the security situation in Baghdad is unsatisfactory, but that, overall, the situation across the country is getting better.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana called the situation in Iraq not very good, but he said the security situation is not out of control.

A spokesman for the European Commission, the EU executive body, said he is worried about the impact the attack on Red Cross headquarters will have on that organization's relief efforts, which are partially funded by the European Union.

The spokesman, Reijo Kempinnen, said the Red Cross presence in Iraq has nothing to do with politics, but only with delivering humanitarian aid. He said the Red Cross, which announced that it will reassess its working conditions in Iraq, has delivered relief to the Iraqi people under exceptionally difficult circumstances.