Iraq: UN condemns targeting of political figures

UN’s Iraq envoy condemns targeting of political figures, calls for investigation

Responding to continuing attacks in Iraq directed at political figures, the United Nations envoy to the troubled country today called on all sides to resolve their differences peacefully, and on Iraqi security forces to fully investigate the violence and bring those responsible to justice.

In a statement released in Baghdad, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Representative, “denounced political violence in any form saying it was a major impediment to achieving national unity and stability.”

Mr. Qazi also urged Iraqis to renounce violence and resolve differences through dialogue and mutual tolerance, and called on the security forces to “fully investigate these criminal activities,” which include the assassination of the Mayor of Fallujah and the kidnapping of an Islamic party leader.

In a related development, Mr. Qazi met today with the Secretary General of the Association of Muslim Scholars at the Umm Al-Qura Mosque to discuss the latest political and security situation, and in particular issues relating to human rights in Iraq.

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