UK and US condemn ‘cowardly’ Iraq bomb attacks
“Cowardly”, “shocking” and “inhuman”: global powers condemn a wave of car bomb attacks that sources say killed nearly 80 people in Iraq on Saturday.
The bloody violence detonated across Iraq on Saturday, as Muslims across the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, was targeted at Shia Muslims, mostly in Baghdad.
Police and medical sources said nearly 80 people were killed in the attacks, which largely targeted shopping streets and markets, with hundreds more injured.
This type of violence has no place in Iraq’s future. Alistair Burt, Foreign Office
Alistair Burt, the Foreign Office minister, said he was “horrified” by the attacks. “The British government utterly condemns the attacks that took place across Iraq yesterday,” he said. “My thoughts are with the families of those involved.
“I was especially horrified to hear that these attacks targeted children and their families celebrating the Eid-al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
“This type of violence has no place in Iraq’s future and we strongly support the government of Iraq’s efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
The terrorists who committed these acts are enemies of Islam. US state department
“These attacks follow a number of shocking incidents that have taken place across Iraq recently and are clearly intended to fuel sectarian strife and destabilise the country.
“I call on all political, religious and community leaders to work together to combat this type of violence and build a more secure Iraq.”
‘Enemies of Islam’
The US state department also condemned the violence, calling the perpetrators the “enemies of Islam”. In a statement, the department said the attacks bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda’s Iraqi (AQI) branch.
It reiterated that it was offering a $10m reward for information leading to the killing or capture of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the AQI leader.
This carnage reflects the inhuman character of its perpetrators. Gyorgy Busztin, UN envoy
“The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the cowardly attacks in Baghdad,” the State Department said. “The terrorists who committed these acts are enemies of Islam and a shared enemy of the United States, Iraq, and the international community.”
Bomb attacks in the Shia-governed Iraq have risen dramatically in 2013, with suggestions that Iraq’s Sunni militants have been emboldened by the war in Syria, in which Sunni rebels are battling against Assad’s Alawaite Shia government.
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More than 1,000 Iraqis were killed in July, the highest monthly death toll since 2008, according to the United Nations.
“This carnage reflects the inhuman character of its perpetrators,” United Nations envoy to Iraq Gyorgy Busztin said. “All honest Iraqis should unite to put an end to this murderous violence that aims to push the country into sectarian strife.”
Sunday violence
The violence continued on Sunday with a further seven killed in bomb and gun attacks.
Gunmen opened fire at a checkpoint manned by “Sawha”, a government-backed Sunni militia, killing two and wounding two in the town of Buhriz, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, police said.
Further north, gunmen attacked a busy park in the town of Balad, killing two and wounding three, police said.
To the south of the capital, three anti-terrorism squad officers were killed and nine wounded by a roadside bomb in the town of Mahaweel, 35 miles from Baghdad.
