GENEVA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi staff member of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has been shot dead in Baghdad, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

    Janan Jabero, a 52 year-old Iraqi national, was shot while driving his car in Baghdad on Monday night, the statement said.

    "Janan Jabero was a brilliant engineer and had been a key part of UNICEF's school rehabilitation program in Iraq since 1999. His death has cost Iraq's children a staunch advocate and we deeply mourn his loss," Roger Wright, UNICEF representative for Iraq, said in the statement.

    The agency said that it still did not know why and by whom Jabero was shot, adding that Iraqi police were still investigating.