There's no excuse

Terrorist attacks will not interfere with elections in Iraq

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev yesterday sent a telegram to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani strongly condemning the bloody terrorist attacks in the Iraqi capital: “I received with indignation and pain the news of the criminal explosions in Baghdad on Sunday, October 25, which resulted in the death and injury of hundreds of people.” The Russian leader emphasized that “any manifestations of terrorism against civilians, state and socio-religious institutions, no matter what goals and objectives they try to motivate, have no justification.” Medvedev asked to convey “sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims, feelings of sympathy and wishes for recovery to all victims.”

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrei Nesterenko, announced “strong support for the efforts of the Iraqi government to eradicate terrorism and restore order on the basis of achieving national harmony.” The head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, who was on an official visit to Sri Lanka yesterday, condemned the “increasing terrorist activity in Iraq.”

The explosions of two car bombs occurred on Sunday within a minute of each other near the buildings of the Baghdad administration and the Iraqi Ministry of Justice. 155 people died, including 24 children who were being picked up by a bus from a kindergarten nearby at the time of the tragedy. More than 500 people were injured. The buildings were seriously damaged, and the office of the Russian Arabic-language TV channel Rusiya al-Yawm was also damaged. According to Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman Qasim Atta, the total mass of explosives in both vehicles was 1.7 tons.

US President Barack Obama called President Talabani and Prime Minister al-Maliki. He called the bombings in Baghdad “an attempt to derail the stabilization process in Iraq” and promised assistance in preparing for general elections scheduled for January. The Iraqi prime minister responded that the elections “must be held on time.” No one has yet claimed responsibility for the bombings, but Prime Minister al-Maliki blamed “al-Qaeda thugs and the criminal Baath Party.” Recall that the Ba'ath was the ruling party in Iraq until the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003 by foreign troops.

After the horrific terrorist attacks, the Iraqi authorities demanded an urgent convening of the UN Security Council. Two months ago, after a series of explosions in Baghdad (100 people were killed and more than 600 were injured on August 19), the Iraqis raised the question of creating an international criminal tribunal to try “war criminals who kill Iraqi civilians.” Then al-Maliki pointed out the involvement of Baath-linked extremists hiding in neighboring Syria in the explosions. Yesterday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the “dangerous attacks” in Baghdad, “confirming the need for genuine national harmony in Iraq.”

Alexey SLOBODIN