Series of terrorist attacks in Iraq

PRESS RELEASE

On the 29 September, there was a series of explosions in Erbil, centre of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, near the headquarters of the local security service. 6 people were killed, over 60, including civilians, received wounds of differing severity. The Al-Qaeda linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for these explosions.

Moscow decisively denounces these terrorist attacks in Erbil. We express our deep condolences to the families of the dead, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. We confirm our solidarity with the government and people of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in their decisive and compromise free counteraction towards the terrorists.

We perceive the acts of violence and crimes committed by terrorists in different parts of the Republic of Iraq, now including the territory of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, very seriously. The attempts of jihadists to achieve their goals in Iraq, Syria, and other countries of the region, by bloody acts against state structures and civilians must be severely rebuffed. However, the long-term solution of the problems and contradictions that have emerged for all the countries of the Middle East lies in the plan for a nation-wide dialogue and the finding of consensus agreements.

30 September 2013