Secretary-General strongly condemns ‘heinous’ bomb attack in kirkuk

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General strongly condemns yesterday’s heinous bomb attack in Kirkuk which took the lives of so many civilians, including children.  No cause can justify such inhumane and indiscriminate violence.

This terrorist attack was particularly troubling because it targeted a meeting to promote dialogue and reconciliation between different communities in the region.  The Secretary-General calls on the Iraqi people and their leaders not to be deterred by such acts of provocation and to continue to work together in a spirit of national reconciliation in order to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the holding of next month’s provincial elections.

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For information media • not an official record