ITALY’S ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo was killed today when a United Nations convoy he was travelling in came under fire, the Italian Foreign Ministry has confirmed.

Luca Attanasio was in one of the vehicles of a World Food Programme convoy, which was attacked during a visit near Goma in the east of the country.

Initial reports stated that he died immediately of his wounds. Two other people, including an Italian police officer, were also killed in the ambush.