British UN worker found dead in Congo hotel

The UN confirmed today that it was to investigate after a British-born aid worker was found dead in a hotel room in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UN confirmed today that it was to investigate after a British-born aid worker was found dead in a hotel room in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The body of married father-of-three Dr Joseph Comerford was found last Friday morning, just four days after arriving in the eastern town of Kisangani with a Dutch colleague.

It is believed the 42-year-old was found hanged.

Dr Comerford, who was born in Liverpool, was based at the UN Development Programmes' crisis unit in Geneva.

Spokesman Manoel de Almeida e Silva said the UN Mission was launching an investigation, and UN personnel were already on the ground working to determine the cause of death.

The UN team's work in Kisangani, scene of violent clashes, has been temporarily suspended in the wake of Dr Comerford's death.