World
Iraq: UN calls for action to end bloodshed
New York, Oct 7 : The top United Nations official in Iraq Sunday called on political, religious and civil leaders to work together with security forces to halt the surge in violence, following a deadly attack in the northern part of the country.
“It is their responsibility to ensure that pilgrims can practice their religious duties, that school children can attend their classes, that journalists can exercise their professional duties, and that ordinary citizens can live a normal life, in an environment free of fear and violence,” Special Representative of the Secretary-General Nickolay Mladenov said in a statement.
Earlier on Sunday, apparent suicide bombers targeted a school and a police station in the northern part of the country killing dozens, including children.
Nearly 1,000 Iraqis were killed and more than 2,000 additional Iraqis killed in acts of terrorism and violence last month, according to the UN Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), which Mladenov heads.
The Mission released figures last Tuesday which show that 887 people, including 127 civilian police were killed in September.
Baghdad was the worst-affected governorate, with 1,429 civilian casualties, followed by Ninewa, Diyala, Salahuddin and Anbar.
Kirkuk, Erbil, Babil, Wasit, Dhi-Qar and Basra also reported double-digit casualty figures.
