Iraq: Car Bombings Claim Dozens of Lives during Eid Ul-Fitr

Iraq: UN Envoy Voices Outrage As Car Bombings Claim Dozens of Lives during Eid Ul-Fitr

New York, Aug 11 2013 - A senior United Nations envoy has expressed shock and outrage at a series of coordinated bombings that targeted shopping areas and parks in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq as people were celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Media reports say more than 60 people were killed in the latest wave of attacks to hit the country, which has in recent months seen some of the worst violence in years. More than 200 were also wounded in the car bombings that reportedly struck mostly Shiite neighbourhoods.

"This carnage reflects the inhuman character of its perpetrators," said the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Gyorgy Busztin, who extended his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.

"All honest Iraqis should unite to put an end to this murderous violence that aims to push the country into sectarian strife," added Mr. Busztin, who serves with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently voiced alarm at the deterioration of the security situation in Iraq, where deadly attacks are becoming "all too commonplace," and appealed to political leaders to take urgent action to stem the violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

ENDS

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