Tributes to Baghdad bomb victim

Ms Watson was a political affairs officer

Tributes have been paid to a Scottish woman who died in a bomb attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad.

Fiona Watson, from Pittenweem in Fife, was killed in the explosion which left 24 people dead and scores more wounded.

The 35-year-old had returned to Iraq only days earlier after a holiday, during which she visited her parents and brother in Scotland.

Ms Watson was a political affairs officer on the staff of the head of the UN mission to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Mr de Mello was also killed by the bomb attack.

His spokesman Salim Lone, who was in the building when the explosion took place, said Ms Watson was a "dear friend".

Huge blast

He said: "She had just come back two days ago from leave and she is one of the dead, I'm afraid to say.

"She was one of the wonderful people who worked for the UN."

Mr Lone said he was in his office about 50ft from Mr de Mello's office when there was a huge blast which smashed the windows and brought down the ceiling.

He said: "It was a pretty awful scene. People were screaming and crying and looking for those that they loved.

If we can't protect them then can we justify going ahead with a mission of this kind no matter how important it may be? Menzies Campbell Liberal Democrat MP

"You cannot imagine how awful it is to lose so many people that you love.

"They had only come here to help the people of Iraq and some fanatics attacked the United Nations. Why did they attack us?"

There was an air of sorrow in Pittenweem as news spread of Ms Watson's death.

She was a former pupil at St Leonard's Sixth Form College in St Andrews, one of Scotland's leading independent schools.

The straight-As student was described by the school's head, Mark Hunter, as "academically gifted, especially as a linguist".

Respect and affection

She was awarded the Aitken Prize as the best French student in the upper sixth.

"Fiona was captain and head of the day girls' house and won the respect and affection of students and staff," added Mr Hunter.

She went on to study at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and at Cambridge before joining the European Commission.

Four years ago Ms Watson began work with the UN as a political analyst.

There was an air of sorrow in Pittenweem

Based in New York, she became part of the UN's increased presence in Iraq.

Frances Mildway, of the UN Association in Scotland, said: "It is sad that she died in such circumstances, such unnecessary violence.

"I think people like Fiona are the unsung heroines of the world.

"They work in unattractive situations because they know that by doing so the world will be a better place."

Liberal Democrat MP and foreign affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell said the death of one of his constituents in the blast showed that this was a truly international operation.

He said: "There is no doubt whatsoever that, both at the United Nations and in the capitals of the countries who have lost nationals, people will be saying to themselves 'what can we do in order to protect our people?'

"And if we can't protect them then can we justify going ahead with a mission of this kind no matter how important it may be?"