| 1 | It is not the first time that Mr Sha, a career diplomat, has let the mask of diplomacy slip. | |
| 2 | The next morning Mr Sha requested a meeting with Mr Ban during which he was "deeply apologetic" according to Farhan Haq, the acting deputy UN spokesman. | |
| 3 | "You've been trying to get rid of me," said 62-year-old Mr Sha according to the senior UN official present, "You can fire me anytime, you can fire me today. | |
| 4 | Later in his impromptu speech Mr Sha turned to an American colleague, singling out Bob Orr, from the executive office of the secretary-general. |