Ban strongly condemns series of bomb attacks outside Baghdad mosques

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has deplored today’s apparently coordinated series of bomb attacks against five Shi’a mosques across Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, which have killed or injured dozens of people.

“Attacks against places of worship cannot be justified by any political or religious cause,” Mr. Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson. “These attacks appear to be aimed at provoking sectarian strife and undermining stability in Iraq.”

Media reports say a series of bombs exploded within an hour of each other outside five mosques across the city either during or just after Friday prayers.

In the statement Mr. Ban appealed to Iraqis to “remain steadfast in their efforts to resolve differences through dialogue and achieve national reconciliation,” and pledged the continued commitment of the United Nations to helping the Iraqi people.