Iraq: UN envoy calls on all sides to shun cycle of reprisals following mosque attacks

The top United Nations official in Iraq today appealed to all parties in the strife torn-country to avoid being drawn into a vicious cycle or reprisal attacks following the “outrageous” bombing of six mosques in Muqdadiya in Diyala Province.

“Once again, places of worship are being attacked. The perpetrators want to incite sectarian violence, in a desperate attempt to take the country back into the dark days of sectarian strife,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative Ján Kubiš said in a statement.

“I appeal to all sides to refrain from being drawn into a cycle of reprisals by these outrageous acts which aim to drive a wedge between the various components of Iraqi society,” he added.

Mr. Kubiš also condemned the attacks on the Baghdad shopping mall and car bomb attack, which claimed a number of lives and left many injured yesterday.