UN envoy strongly condemns attack against Iraqi Foreign Ministry

The United Nations envoy to Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov, strongly condemned the attack on the country’s foreign ministry today which killed and injured a number of people.

“Baghdad today regretfully suffered a series of terrorist attacks. Those who orchestrate such attacks should be condemned by all political, religious and civic leaders in this country,” Mr. Mladenov, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), said in a news release.

Mr. Mladenov extended his deepest condolences to the families of those killed, to the Government of Iraq, to Foreign Affairs Minister Hoshyar Zebari, and to the Iraqi people.

Iraq’s political leaders should show national unity in dealing with such threats and unite against terrorism, he stated.

The two car bombs that exploded outside the Foreign Ministry were reportedly among several attacks today in the capital which left at least 33 people dead. Bombings were also reported at a nearby restaurant, as well as in the city’s commercial heart and in south-eastern Baghdad.

During his visit to Baghdad last month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern about the deteriorating security in parts of Iraq, and urged all political leaders to unite against terrorism and work together to stabilize the country and stop the “senseless deaths of Iraqi women, children and men.”