Saturday, February 9, 2013

UN Condemns Attack on Iranian Exile Camp


UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the mortar attack on Iranian exile camp outside Baghdad.
UN News Center stated that the camp was attacked early in the morning today while most of the residents were sleeping. Six persons were killed and scores wounded. The camp serves as a transit facility for more than 3,000 exiles, most of them MEK members, where a process to determine their refugee status is being carried out by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
“The Secretary-General calls on the Government of Iraq, which is responsible for the safety and security of residents of both Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf, to promptly and fully investigate the incident and bring perpetrators to justice,” said Mr. Ban's spokesperson in a statement. “He has repeatedly stated that violence and provocation are unacceptable.” (UN News Center, 9 February)
The High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, expressed his shock about the attack calling it “a despicable act of violence.”
“I call on the Iraqi Government to do everything it can to guarantee security to the residents,” he said. “The perpetrators must be found and brought to justice without delay.”
In a news release, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said it is closely liaising with the Government on the response to the incident, including medical assistance to the wounded.
Mr. Ban's Special Representative in the country, Martin Kobler, has also asked Iraqi authorities to promptly conduct an investigation into the mortar explosions.
Photo: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. (UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe)

1 comment:

reader said...

These people have suffered enough – they need to be protected by the international community. Right or wrong, they have dedicated their entire life to what they believe to be the right path for the country. They deserve sympathy and protection however misguided they may be.