UN envoy in Iraq condemns attack on Baghdad church

(Nov.02,2010) The United Nations top envoy in Iraq on Monday strongly condemned Sunday’s terrorist attack on a Catholic Church in Baghdad that reportedly took dozens of lives, as he reaffirmed the need to speed the formation of a government, in order to boost security in the country. “Acts of violence targeting the Iraqi people, of all different backgrounds, continue to claim lives on a daily basis,” Ad Melkert, Special Representative of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Iraq, said in a statement. To ensure the country’s ability to protect its citizens, he reiterated that every effort should be exerted by Iraqi leaders to expedite agreement on formation of the government and other outstanding issues. In Monday’s statement. Melkert also extended condolences to the families of the victims and the people and Government of Iraq, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery.
Earlier, Pope Benedict XVI after his Angelus prayer on Monday on the feast of All Saints, had condemned the act and said he would pray for the victims of this senseless violence, made even more ferocious because it struck defenceless people who were gathered in the house of God, which is a house of love and reconciliation." Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury and spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican community, called for an end to "this kind of sacrilegious butchery and to all intimidation and
violence against Christians and other minorities in Iraq".