“This attack and yesterday's bombing near the holy Shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf clearly demonstrate that there are forces in Iraq determined to inflame sectarian violence and to exploit the current difficulties in forming the new government,” he said through a statement delivered by his spokesman.

That situation underscores the urgent need for political leaders to resolve their differences in the best interests of the nation, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Reconciling different sectors of Iraq society in order to stop the violence has been at the forefront of the efforts of Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, Mr. Annan’s Special Representative in Iraq, Mr. Dujarric added in response to a question from a news correspondent at his daily briefing.