It was the single worst day of carnage in more than 18 months in the Iraqi capital. Evening figures indicated that almost 100 people were killed and over 500 wounded.

"The presidency of the European Union condemns today's attacks in Baghdad, including near the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, as well as the bombings that have taken place over the last couple of weeks at various locations in Iraq," said a statement from the European Union.

The United States and other nations were quick to echo the condemnations.

"It shows you the degree to which extremists will always go to wreak havoc through senseless violence that harms human lives," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on behalf of President Barack Obama.

"The government of Spain firmly condemns the wave of terrorist attacks which took place today in Baghdad which killed numerous people and injured hundreds," said a statement from the Spanish foreign ministry.

The United Nations also expressed outrage.

"Members of the UN Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the series of attacks in Baghdad, and expressed their deep condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed its support to the people and the government of Iraq and its commitment to Iraq's security," said council president British Ambassador John Sawers.

The UN condemnation was especially poignant as Wednesday had been declared the first World Humanitarian Day.

Aid workers recognized

The deadly attacks in Baghdad came on a day that was meant to celebrate the altruism and sacrifice of thousands of UN humanitarian aid workers.

At UN headquarters in New York, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon told staffers and assembled diplomats that the day was meant to renew the UN's commitment to assist "vulnerable, voiceless and marginalized people wherever they may be."

August 19 was chosen as the day to commemorate aid workers who have died in the course of their missions around the world, but in particular the 22 UN staffers who died in a bombing at the UN mission in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad in Iraq six years ago.

Among those who died on August 19, 2003 was Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Brazilian chief of the UN mission in Iraq which was set up immediately following the US invasion of Iraq.

"This is also a day on which we pay tribute to the legions of heroic humanitarian personnel. These men and women come from many backgrounds. But they share a conviction that one person's suffering is everyone's responsibility," said Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

Also being commemorated was the attack on the UN office in Algiers which was bombed in December 2007, killing 17 local and foreign staffers.

Aid workers are targets

Over the last three years, attacks on aid workers have risen by 61 percent, and the annual averages are three times higher than nine years ago according to the UN.

"The days are gone when driving in a white jeep with a humanitarian logo was a guarantee of safety. Today, aid has become a target," said Jonathan Mitchell, CARE's emergency response director. "Just like you would never attack a hospital, you should never attack a humanitarian worker."

Part of the increase in violence is due to the rise in the number of aid workers around the world and the number of places where aid workers are stationed.

Despite the dangers of the job and having to work in crisis situations, many aid groups have said they are having no difficulty retaining employees. Even after having to pass on the news that their colleagues had died in the Canal Hotel bombing, Elaine Caux of the UN's High Commission for Refugees said she wouldn't consider quitting her job.

av/sms/dpa/Reuters/AFP
Editor: Susan Houlton