UN Chief Slams Recent Attacks in Iraq


UN Chief Slams Recent Attacks in Iraq

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the latest spate of attacks taking place in recent days across Iraq, which had left a large number of casualties.

"The secretary-general strongly condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Iraq, including against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday," said a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson on Thursday.

The UN chief extended his condolences to the families of the victims and wished those injured a full recovery.

In the statement, Ban also appealed to all Iraqis to unite in confronting terrorism, Xinhua reported.

"The United Nations stands by the people and the government of Iraq in this endeavor," he added.

A total of 48 people were killed and 119 others were wounded in violent attacks across Iraq on Wednesday, mostly in the capital city of Baghdad.

On Wednesday morning, a car bomb went off at a parking lot outside the Iraqi Foreign Ministry building in the city center, which is adjacent to the heavily fortified Green Zone that houses some government offices and the US embassy.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks.

The latest wave of massive bombings came as the Iraqi army backed by allied tribes have been fighting tribal fighters and gunmen linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq's western province of Anbar, particularly in and around Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad, as well as the restive city of Fallujah.

Iraq is witnessing its worst violence in recent years. According to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, a total of 8,868 Iraqis, including 7,818 civilians and civilian police personnel, were killed in 2013, the highest annual death toll in years.

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