SRSG condemns al-Bayaa bombing

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG) Staffan de Mistura strongly condemned the car bomb attacks that took place in al-Bayaa region in southwestern Baghdad. Mr. de Mistura described the bombing in a statement released on Wednesday as “a murderous attack which was clearly designed to provoke sectarian tensions, even though the people of Iraq had clearly indicated through their votes on 31 January that they wish to put that sad phase of Iraqi history well behind them.” A car crammed with explosives went off on Wednesday (Feb. 11) near a parking lot in al-Bayaa, southwestern Baghdad, killing 10 civilians and injuring 325, according to a source from the Baghdad operations command. He called on all Iraqis to not rise to the provocations of extremists. The SRSG extends the United Nations sincere condolences to the families of those killed, and wishes a full and speedy recovery for the wounded. SH (P)/SR 1