UN Iraq envoy condemns civilian killings in Baghdad, kidnapping of parliamentarian

The senior United Nations envoy to Iraq condemned "in the strongest possible terms" today's deadly bombing in Baghdad as well as the kidnapping of an Iraqi member of parliament, calling for her immediate release.

The senior United Nations envoy to Iraq condemned "in the strongest possible terms" today's deadly bombing in Baghdad as well as the kidnapping of an Iraqi member of parliament, calling for his immediate release.

Ashraf Qazi said the blast in the Sadr City neighborhood, which caused the death and injury of dozens of innocent Iraqi civilians, was "a particularly abhorrent and despicable crime apparently aimed at sabotaging the prospects of national reconciliation."

In a statement released by the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), he also condemned the kidnapping of Iraqi parliament member Taiseer Al-Mashhadani, and called for her "early and safe release."

Mr. Qazi voiced hope that measures recently adopted by the new Government "will rapidly succeed in preventing such criminal acts of violence which targets innocent civilians."