The European Commission is to recall some staff from Baghdad after the bombing of the UN compound, it announced today.
The move could delay EU plans to fund reconstruction in Iraq after the US-led war.
The three Commission officials, who had their offices in the UN building, were in Iraq to assess the country's aid needs on behalf of the European Union, one of the world's largest donors of humanitarian and development aid.
"That mission has been disbanded...The staff are trying to make their way out of the country," European Commission spokesman Mr Michael Mann told a daily news briefing.
The Commission had hoped to have an overview of Iraq's need for reconstruction aid from the international community ahead of a donors' meeting in Spain later this year, but the bombing may have scuppered this plan.
"Obviously, our need assessment process will be affected by what has happened," Mr Mann said.
Three other Commission officials, responsible for the EUexecutive's emergency humanitarian aid programme in Iraq, will remain in Baghdad.
"These people are staying there, obviously keeping a lowprofile," Mr Mann said.