Security Council says 'horrific' terror must not disrupt Iraq’s political process

Condemning the recent wave of "horrific" terror attacks in Iraq, the United Nations Security Council today called on Member States to cooperate in stanching the flow of terrorists in and out of Iraq and preventing the disruption of the ongoing political process.

"Acts of terrorism must not be allowed to disrupt Iraq's political and economic transition currently taking place, including the constitutional drafting process and its referendum," the Council affirmed.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1618 of 2005, the Council also strongly urged Member States to prevent the trafficking in arms and the financing that supported terrorists, and it emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation of countries in the region for that purpose.

It labelled as "shameless and horrific" the attacks of recent weeks that have resulted in the deaths of children, electoral workers, constitutional experts, diplomats and other Iraqi and foreign civilians.

The Council called on the international community to fully support the Iraqi Government in its obligation to protect the diplomatic community, UN staff and other foreign civilian personnel working in the country. In particular, the Council noted with great concern that attacks on foreign diplomats had increased in number, often resulting in abduction and murder.