Deploring attacks, Ban appeals to Iraqis to reject incitement to violence

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, condemning recent attacks in several Iraqi cities, called today on the people of the strife-torn nation to reject attempts to incite further violence.

Mr. Ban “strongly condemns the attacks and assassinations in Baghdad, Kirkuk and Anbar in recent days that have killed and wounded a large number of Iraqis,” his spokesperson said in a statement.

“The Secretary-General notes that Iraq has been benefiting from an improving security environment, and appeals to the people of Iraq to continue to reject these attempts to incite further violence in the country,” it added.

“As Iraq prepares to take full responsibility for security in its cities, he calls upon all Iraqi political leaders to work together towards achieving lasting peace through national dialogue and reconciliation.”

Earlier this month, Staffan de Mistura, the outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, told the Security Council that the country has the potential to overcome its challenges and flourish, with much depending on a number of key priorities, including an improvement in the daily lives of its people and defusing existing tensions.

The past two years have seen the Iraqis “progressively fatigued” over civil strife, slowly shedding sectarian divisions, seeking reconciliation and turning up at the polls, he told the Council.