Iraq violence "directly linked" to Syria crisis - Moscow
MOSCOW. Sept 23 (Interfax) - Russia has claimed that the current escalation of violence in Iraq is "directly linked" to the crisis in neighboring Syria.
Russia's Foreign Ministry made the point in a statement issued on Monday in response to a new series of explosions in Baghdad this weekend, which reportedly killed more than 70 people and left more than 120 injured. The most powerful bombing was perpetrated during a funeral ceremony in a Shiite district.
"Such inhuman crimes, in which innocent people die, are resolutely condemned in Moscow. We give our sincerest condolences to the families of those killed, and sympathize with and wish the earliest possible recovery to those injured," the statement said.
"It is especially alarming that the escalation of terrorist activity in Iraq is directly linked to developments in neighboring Syria, where the government and opposition remain in bloody confrontation. In effect, one can see terrorist groups, including groups linked to Al Qaeda, joining forces, now at a regional level," it said.
"We reaffirm our solidarity with the leadership and people of Iraq in resolutely countering the terrorist threat. We believe that it is particularly important to rebuff attempts by extremists to exacerbate relations between various political, ethnic and religious groups of the country. We support efforts to solve problems through a broad pan-national dialogue in the interests of all Iraqis, on the basis of respect for the independence, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq," the statement said.