Top UN official in Iraq condemns series of deadly bombings

The top United Nations envoy in Iraq has strongly condemned today’s series of deadly bomb attacks in a number of cities that claimed the lives of dozens of people and injured many others.

“The atrocious crimes being committed against the people of Iraq are totally unacceptable and I urge all Iraqis to remain steadfast in the face of attempts to undermine a stable and peaceful Iraq,” said Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

He urged authorities to make every effort to identify the perpetrators of the “atrocious acts of violence” and bring them to justice.

Mr. Kobler extended his condolences to the families of those who were killed and wished those who suffered injuries a speedy recovery.

Media reports indicated that a series of apparently coordinated bomb blasts went off in over a dozen cities and towns, including the capital, Baghdad, as well as Karbala, Kirkuk, Falluja and Mosul, killing more than 40 people and wounding scores of others.